Coby White credits his "spiritual journey" last summer for his breakout performance this season

Coby White’s ascent to the top of the opposing team’s scouting reports wasn’t a straight path. It was a journey that was five seasons in the making. White has always been about putting in an enormous amount of work in the offseason, but the turning point came last summer when he embarked on a “spiritual journey” that entailed him having to go out of his comfort zone, which meant doing things outside the confines of a basketball court.

A different direction

While offseason training is necessary for all NBA players, White took a different direction last summer. Instead of only focusing on his physical game, he prioritized his mental and spiritual well-being. This meant exploring other passions and hobbies outside of basketball, such as meditation and reading.

The result? A rejuvenated White entered the 2023-2024 NBA season with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, resulting in much better play. The former Tar Heel is averaging 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season, all career-highs.

“This summer, I took a different direction. Like, I always work hard on the court. But off the court, I never took the time to grow, I’ll say mentally, spiritually, those types of areas,” White said in a talk with The Athletic.

“So this summer, I wanted to do things differently. So this summer I read, like, three books. And I hate reading. But just from a mental discipline standpoint. I called it a spiritual journey I went on this summer. Just trying to grow spiritually and mentally. So I read books.”

COBY TO BEAT THE BUZZER.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/vv5QtpR3hj
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 13, 2024

Trying different things

White mentioned getting sage advice from 15-year veteran DeMar DeRozan, who’s keen on strengthening the mental aspect of his game as much as the physical.

“I talk to DeMar (DeRozan) a lot. And he’s always talking about the mental aspect and stuff he does off the court just to challenge his mental. He just wants to face his fears head-on. And that doesn’t have anything to do with basketball, but it’s got a lot to do with life. So when you get on the court, as you see, DeMar doesn’t fear anything. So I kind of just talk to him about little stuff like that. He gave me pointers, and I took that this summer and tried to elevate myself by doing some of that stuff.”

CLUTCH COBY WHITE.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/4U7qCrerwE
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 11, 2024

A different direction

Trying different things

"Without them, I wouldn't be where I'm at" - Coby White on what his teammates have meant to him during his breakout season