SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Coby White doesn’t like to swim in self-praise.
Heck, not even wade in it.
Most NBA rookies don’t when dealing with the media, and more specifically, answering questions about their own early success.
So when the Bulls guard was asked how he’s been able to come off the bench and make an instant impact, of course there was a few seconds of hesitation as he chose his words carefully, just minutes after the Monday night win over Sacramento.
Teammate Tomas Satoransky, however, obviously wasn’t done dishing out assists.
“He’s the microwave,’’ Satoransky insisted, as he headed for the training room.
Not a bad description of White, despite the fact that former Detroit Pistons “Bad Boy’’ Vinnie Johnson already owned that nickname back in the 1980s, but Satoransky was just keeping up with the times. The 80s are back in vogue, so why not reboot a nickname?
White could only laugh, as his teammate walked away.
“This has been challenging for me for sure,’’ White then answered. “I haven’t come off the bench in years.’’
And it’s been years since the Bulls have had a rookie come off the bench and make this sort of impact. Lauri Markkanen was a starter from Day 1 in his rookie campaign, while the likes of Denzel Valentine and former Bull Bobby Portis went through growing pains in that reserve role.
Not White, with the latest evidence coming against the Kings.
Sure, the 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting — 3-for-6 from the three-point line — were pedestrian considering some of White’s other outings this season, but the fact that the Bulls were plus-13 in plus/minus with White in the game, and on a night in which all five Bulls starters were in the minus category, it was again welcomed by the entire locker room.
“He’s got a great mentality for the game,’’ coach Jim Boylen said of White. “When you care, you work, and you have some smarts, you’ve got a good shot to be a good player.’’
Just don’t try and sell White on that yet.
In the mind of the No. 7 pick overall out of North Carolina, yes, there have been good moments this season, but there’s also uncertainty. When White said he hasn’t “come off the bench in years,’’ he wasn’t exaggerating.
“That’s why sometimes you see my inconsistency,’’ White said of his growing pains. “Some games it’s there, and some games it’s not. It’s been a long time since I wasn’t a starter. I’d say it was when I was 12 or 11 years old, and I was playing up an age group with an AAU team.
“Other than that I’ve never come off the bench, so it’s difficult. But I’m embracing it.’’
He’s doing more than that, averaging 13 points per game, but he is accurate in describing his inconsistency. Three times this season, he’s followed up 20-plus-point performances with single digits the next game. It’s about getting comfortable in that role, but at the same time staying aggressive.
There’s the fine line he’s trying to walk.
“He’s got so many areas to grow in like a lot of our team,’’ Boylen said. “But where he’s great is he competes and he’s not scared.’’
Plus, White sees the bigger picture.
Sure, he’ll continue to play the role of “microwave, ’’ as well as put in all extra shooting before and after practice that he does to help contribute off the Bulls bench. That’s because he has starting plans. White doesn’t know when, but knows they’re coming.
“I’m embracing it and trying to do whatever I can to help my team win in this role,’’ White said. “Whatever is asked of me, because I know it’s not going to be like this forever.’’
