Coby White

 

Alec Jacoby “Coby” White (born February 16, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weighing 195 pounds (88 kg), White plays both point guard and shooting guard. He played college basketball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. White earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2020 and finished second in the 2024 NBA Most Improved Player voting behind Tyrese Maxey.

 

Early Life 

 

White was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, to parents Donald and Bonita. His father Donald played college basketball at North Carolina Central before working in a factory until his death from liver cancer on August 15, 2017. 

 

High School Career

 

White attended Greenfield School in Wilson, North Carolina, where he became the all-time leading scorer in North Carolina high school basketball history with 3,573 career points, surpassing Jameson Curry’s previous record. White was a consensus top-30 recruit in the 2018 class and participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game.

 

College Career

 

White committed to the University of North Carolina, becoming the first UNC guard drafted in the first round after his freshman season since Michael Jordan. In 2018-19, he started all 35 games and averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. On February 26, 2019, White scored a career-high 34 points against Syracuse. On March 5, he surpassed Michael Jordan on North Carolina’s all-time freshman scoring list with 469 points in a win over Boston College.

 

White set a UNC freshman record with 82 three-pointers made and helped lead the Tar Heels to the Sweet 16, where they lost to Auburn. He earned Second Team All-ACC honors before declaring for the NBA Draft on April 3, 2019.

 

NBA Career

 

Chicago Bulls (2019–2026)

 

White was selected seventh overall by Chicago on June 20, 2019, becoming the first North Carolina product drafted by the Bulls in the first round since Michael Jordan. He made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play in the NBA, scoring 17 points off the bench against Charlotte.

 

On November 12, 2019, White set a Bulls franchise record by hitting seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter against New York, finishing with 27 points. On June 10, 2021, he underwent left shoulder surgery, missing four months.

 

White signed a three-year contract extension on July 7, 2023. In 2023-24, he enjoyed a breakout season, earning back-to-back Eastern Conference Player of the Week awards in March, becoming the second Bulls player to achieve this after Michael Jordan. On April 1, 2024, he earned his first Player of the Month award, joining Jordan, Pippen, Rose, Butler, and DeRozan as the sixth Bull to receive the honor. On April 17, 2024, White scored a career-high 42 points in a play-in tournament victory over Atlanta.

 

Charlotte Hornets (2026–present)

 

On February 4, 2026, White and Mike Conley Jr. were traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Ousmane Dieng, Collin Sexton, and multiple second-round picks. White is currently sidelined with a right calf injury through the All-Star break.

 

References

 

External Links

* Coby White on NBA.com

* Coby White on Basketball-Reference.com