Bulls guard Coby White has shoulder surgery, could miss start of next season

The Chicago Bulls could be without one of their key young players entering the 2021-22 NBA season.

The team announced guard Coby White underwent shoulder surgery after sustaining the injury during “basketball related activities”. White is expected to be re-evaluated in four months. According to Tim Bontemps, this would mean he is expected to miss training camp which starts Sept. 28. The 2021-22 NBA regular season will begin Oct. 19.

White averaged 15.1 points and 4.8 assists per game in 69 contests with the Bulls, starting 54 games. He is expected to be a major part of the team’s plans going forward as the Bulls look to make the playoffs after a four-year absence. With Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic expected to shoulder most of the team’s production, White could’ve served a capable third option.

He improved offensively but also regressed defensively in his second season and his skills as a point guard are still in question. The Bulls have not shied away from saying they’re exploring the market for a point guard, meaning White could move into more of an off-ball role. He’ll have to improve from the perimeter to make the change a success if the Bulls decide to go that route.

If White misses more time, expect LaVine to take over as the lead ball-handler. The Bulls may also add point guard help during the offseason if they don’t bring Tomas Satoransky back.