Billy Donovan explains why he went with Coby White and not DeMar DeRozan on the Chicago Bulls' final play

With the Chicago Bulls down three, 108-105, to the Cleveland Cavaliers with only four seconds left, the stage was set for veteran wingman DeMar DeRozan to bring out his cape and save the day.

However, as the Bulls’ final play got going, it wasn’t DeRozan who came out of the phone booth to try and save Chicago from another loss; it was fifth-year guard Coby White, who took the hand-off from big man Nikola Vucevic and fired up a long three-pointer that missed as time expired.

In the post-game interview, head coach Billy Donovan explained his decision to go with White over DeRozan on the final play.

White was sizzling

At that point, the former Tar Heel had already registered 32 points—23 coming in a scintillating second-half performance. And given the fact that the Bulls needed a triple, it made more sense to hand the reins to White rather than DeRozan, whose expertise is the midrange.

“I put him in the first option (game-tying attempt) on purpose,” Donovan said referring to the game’s final play where White shot the ball over the defense of the Cavs’ Evan Mobley.

Coby White has a good look to tie the game. pic.twitter.com/XYhrlWqwnW
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) February 15, 2024

“For our team, DeMar has been great. He’s an unbelievable closer. But there are going to be times they are going to double-team him, trap him, there are times they put a lot of length and size on him, may deny him and prevent him from getting the ball,” Donovan continued.

Need to have another player who can save the day

By now, opposing teams know how dangerous DeRozan is in crunchtime. But with teams increasingly keying in on him, the Bulls needed another player who could step up and make a big shot when it mattered most. That player could be White.

“We’re going to have to have guys to step up in different moments. I’ve got a lot of confidence and belief in Coby, and I think he needs to be in those moments,” Donovan shared.

Coby White from WAY downtown 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PgeRd9FcnR
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) February 15, 2024

White was sizzling

Need to have another player who can save the day

Coby White shares what advice DeMar DeRozan gave him after he missed the last shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers