© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Zach LaVine asserts Coby White should win the Most Improved Player award
Even though Zach LaVine hasn’t been around the Chicago Bulls a lot since undergoing foot surgery in February, he continues to monitor the team’s progress from afar, calling his teammates to offer support and guidance after every game. And despite his absence on the court, LaVine remains an unequivocal supporter of spitfire guard Coby White, who he believes should win this season’s Most Improved Player award.
LaVine says nobody is more deserving
LaVine and White have been teammates for five years, and the two-time All-Star has seen the journey the former Tar Heel has taken to get where he is today.
White, who averaged 9.7 points per game last season, has elevated his game to new heights this year with an impressive average of 19.7 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting, including 39.2 percent from beyond the arc. Add to that his 5.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per night, and it’s clear that White has made a significant jump in his fifth year in the league.
While some may argue that players like the Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson or the Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey deserve the Most Improved Player award, LaVine believes that White's growth and impact on the Bulls' success this season make him the clear choice for the honor.
“I don’t think there is really anybody else that can have that (Most Improved Player award). Coby probably has the most points per game that’s jumped, field-goal percentage, total 3-pointers, assists, rebounds. You can name it; everything is up. He’s leading the league in minutes. He’s been tremendous,” LaVine asserted.
Didn’t see it coming
LaVine was forthright in admitting that he didn’t see White’s level of improvement coming, but he isn't surprised by it either.
“I know he’s worked extremely hard. But it’s hard to say you knew he had it in him,” LaVine shared.
“To see him really put it together, the player he’s really becoming into, it’s just special.”
