The Chicago Bulls are turning heads across the NBA — not just for their scorching 6–1 start to the season, but for a surprising addition to their traveling party. Head coach Billy Donovan confirmed Thursday that Coby White and rookie Noa Essengue will be joining the team on its back-to-back trip to Milwaukee and Cleveland this weekend. The twist? White still hasn’t played a single minute this season due to a lingering calf strain.
For Bulls fans, this isn’t just another roster move. It’s a sign — a glimmer of hope that one of Chicago’s most dynamic guards may finally be nearing a comeback. White, who averaged 20 points last season, has been sidelined since August, when he suffered the injury that derailed his preseason and forced the Bulls to take an ultra-cautious approach to his recovery.
“I feel good physically. No setbacks,” White said Thursday. “I’ve been running a lot — and I mean a lot — just building the tolerance in my calf. It’s been good.”
The optimism is palpable, but so is the caution. White has reached this stage of his rehab before, only to be pulled back after tightness flared up again. This time, Donovan and the Bulls’ training staff are determined not to rush the process. The league has already seen how calf injuries can spiral into season-ending disasters — just ask Tyrese Haliburton or Jayson Tatum. For a player entering unrestricted free agency next summer, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
White chose to bet on himself this offseason, declining a contract extension in hopes of proving his value on the court. According to team insiders, both sides remain on good terms and are expected to revisit talks in July. But for now, the only number that matters is how many practices — and eventually minutes — he can string together without a setback.
After being cleared for limited drills, White began ramping up with three-on-three and two-on-two sessions alongside developmental coaches. The plan is to keep him working while traveling with the team — a sign that full-contact scrimmages are just around the corner. Donovan indicated that the Bulls’ next extended practice stretch, starting Thursday, will serve as the key test. If White passes it, a mid-November return — possibly during Chicago’s grueling five-game West Coast swing — is realistic.
“It wasn’t a re-strain or anything like that,” White clarified. “Just a minor setback. This time, we’re making sure I go longer and build that tolerance.”
When he finally returns, Donovan will face a good problem — figuring out how to integrate a proven scorer back into a lineup that’s been rolling. The current rotation, powered by Tre Jones, has outperformed expectations, propelling the Bulls to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Most insiders expect White to come off the bench initially, allowing him to rebuild conditioning under a minutes restriction before reclaiming his starting role.
Still, his presence — even on the sideline — means something. White’s energy and leadership have been felt throughout the locker room as Chicago continues to defy preseason predictions.
“Probably nobody picked us to be where we are right now,” White said with a grin. “But every night, we go out there to win. We’ve got a team of guys who can really play.”
And soon, the Bulls might have one more.
Whether Coby White’s inclusion on this road trip is merely symbolic or the start of his long-awaited return remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear — Chicago’s most electric scorer is inching closer to the court, and when he finally steps back onto it, the Bulls might look even scarier than they already do.
Leave a Reply