Coby White has waited six years for the Chicago Bulls to finally hand him the keys to the offense. He’s quietly excelled despite finishing full seasons averaging fewer shots per game than the likes of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic.

After six long years, however, White is finally entering training camp as the Bulls’ go-to scorer—and a massive seventh season could soon be awaiting him.

White has thrived whenever his number has been called, proving capable of excelling as an isolation scorer, playmaker, and off-ball shooter. He’s produced star-caliber scoring lines, ranked among the team leaders in assists per game, and has even fueled postseason-caliber winning percentages.

It simply hasn’t been until 2025, however, that Chicago has committed to White as its go-to scoring option beyond stretches brought on by injuries or trades.

The 2025 offseason is in the rearview and White has now emerged as the Bulls’ unquestioned best scorer. He’s been surrounded by players who excel in multiple phases of the game, all seemingly enhancing his impact as the go-to option.

White’s 2026 free agency will undoubtedly be a hot topic this season, but before he has to cross that bridge, he’ll finally get to prove what he can do in a No. 1 scoring role.

Coby White is finally entering preseason as Bulls’ go-to scoring option

White has spent brief stretches in the role of a No. 1 scoring option, with 2024-25 acting as the closest he’s come to a full-time opportunity. This past February, Chicago traded Zach LaVine and handed the reins to White in a manner that forced him to adapt on the fly.

The 25-year-old passed the test with flying colors, averaging 22.9 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 three-point field goals made per game after LaVine’s final appearance with the Bulls.

White not only stepped up as a scorer, but did so while shooting at a sustainable clip. Across the aforementioned 34-game sample size, he compiled a slash line of .470/.378/.922—not all that far off from his full-season shooting marks of .453/.370/.902.

LaVine helped the Bulls turn a corner during that time, with the team compiling a record of 19-15 during his 34 appearances after entering the stretch at 20-27.

For as exciting as it was to see White step into a featured role as a scorer, the context remains that he’s never entered the preseason as the No. 1 option. That’s changed in 2025, as Chicago’s offseason activity consisted of rounding out the rotation and prioritizing elements other than isolation scoring.

Josh Giddey will likely continue to excel as the Bulls’ primary facilitator, but White remains the player whom Chicago will turn to when a shot needs to fall.

Perhaps White will struggle in this role, proving himself to be more of a complementary scoring option than an ideal go-to player. The Bulls have waited six years to test the waters, however, and are wise to give him a chance before unrestricted free agency becomes a factor in 2026.

It’s taken longer than it should’ve, but White has finally been granted his wish of receiving a true opportunity to prove himself as a No. 1 scoring option.