CHICAGO — The Bulls will be without starting guard Coby White for a minimum of two weeks after he sustained a right calf strain, the team announced Monday.
The 25-year-old has already resumed on-court work and will be re-evaluated in 14 days, meaning he is expected to miss Chicago’s season opener Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons and at least five additional games.
White first injured the calf in August and did not appear in any preseason contests. Head coach Billy Donovan said the guard completed non-contact activity Sunday and was cleared for additional contact drills Monday. Donovan added that White will operate under a minutes restriction whenever he returns.
“When you have a lower-leg injury like he does, I don’t care how hard he’s worked — and he’s worked really hard — you’re never in game shape,” Donovan told reporters. “That’ll be his challenge when he gets back on the floor.”
Contract Year Looms
White is entering the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract that includes nearly $4 million in incentives. He is scheduled to earn $12.88 million this year and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. According to league sources, he informed the front office he will not sign an extension during the season because of limitations on the team’s current offer. Both sides intend to revisit talks once the season ends.
Career Year in 2024-25
The sixth-year guard is coming off his best NBA campaign. In 74 games (73 starts) last season, White posted career highs with 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 45.3% from the field and 37% from three in 33.1 minutes per game. He finished second to Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey in 2023-24 Most Improved Player voting and earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors in March.
White’s breakout month featured a career-best 44-point outing on March 6 in Orlando, where he hit 16 of 28 shots overall and 7 of 15 from deep. He registered three consecutive 35-plus-point performances and averaged 27.7 points for March. League rules have allowed him to ink a four-year, $89 million extension since July 10.
The Bulls will revisit White’s status in early November.
Source: Basketball Insiders
