Coby White Thrives in Charlotte, Eyeing Long-Term Role

0:00On May 1st, Kobe White's journey took a sharp turn when he got traded from the Chicago Bulls to the Charlotte Hornets back in February after 6, solid years in the windy city. The 26-year-old guard, who's from North Carolina, slid right into his new squad, like he was always meant to be there. In just 23 games off the bench, he averaged 15.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game, shooting over 52. Percent from the field, and nearly 40 percent from D-Ball, while playing about 10 fewer minutes than he did in Chicago. That efficiency sparked real buzz, especially after he hit a clutch game tying shot to beat the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. White's numbers actually topped, or matched his bullstets, proving he fits their up-temple style perfectly. The Hornets ended up losing to Orlando in the next play-in round, but White's impact helped snap their decade-long post-season drought just a bit. White's all in on Stam put. He loves the vibe, from the fun staff to the winning culture they're building.

1:01He called it God's plan from day one, saying the people make every workday exciting, and the basketball aligns with his game. It's his home state, after all, and he's eyeing a long-term role to chase deeper play-off runs. Hornets' president, Jeff Peterson, echoed that love, praising White's quick rise in looking forward to a full-off season together. They hold his full bird rights now, letting them offer the max deal-up to five years, with 8% raises, even over the salary cap. That trade gave Charlotte a huge edge, plus White got an inside look at the organization that's transforming with a new practice facility, and player first focus. With free agency talks kicking off right after the NBA finals in June, White's got options, but everything points to him locking in with Charlotte. This could be the start of something special for the Hornets, turning that trade into a cornerstone for their rebuild.