Coby White Uses NBA Platform to Give Back, Inspired by His Own Journey
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White is speaking candidly about the path that shaped him, both on and off the basketball court. At 25, White has emerged as a rising star in the NBA, but his journey from Goldsboro, North Carolina, was far from guaranteed. Reflecting on his youth, White credits three factors for keeping him out of trouble: family, fear, and basketball.
“I always say that basketball saved my life,” White told Andscape. “I remember while growing up the people I was hanging around with when I got to about 13 or 14 started getting involved with gangs and stuff like that. And I always thank my mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister because they raised me the right way.”
White recounted how he was asked to join a gang as a teenager. “I knew my dad would — excuse my language — would kick my a– if I ever did anything like that. But I also knew that if I got in trouble, I couldn’t play the game I love,” he said. That split-second decision ultimately kept him on a path that led to basketball success while many of his peers succumbed to dangerous circumstances.
Now, White has an opportunity to become the face of the Bulls’ young, rebuilding roster. He averaged 20.5 points per game last season, posting career highs in points, 3-point field goals, steals, field goal percentage, and free-throw percentage. With free agency looming in 2026, White’s personal and professional stakes are higher than ever, motivating him to elevate his game to All-Star level.
Off the court, White is leveraging his platform to impact the lives of Black and brown youth. He recently re-launched the Coby White Family Foundation (CWFF), which aims to provide holistic mental health support, equitable opportunities, and creative empowerment while fostering resilience and confidence. The foundation primarily focuses on underprivileged youth in Chicago and White’s hometown of Goldsboro.
“I feel like I can continue to impact the youth,” White said. “It starts with showing them what the rights and wrongs are and that violence isn’t ever the answer. There’s more to life than gang violence, more to life than being in a gang, more to life than what they have seen so far.”
White’s connection to basketball runs deep. Born Feb. 16, 2000, to former North Carolina Central guard Donald White and Bonita White, Coby credits his father—who passed away from liver cancer in 2017—for introducing him to the sport. His older brother, Will, also played college basketball and coached, providing further inspiration and guidance.
Before becoming a high school star at the Greenfield School, North Carolina Mr. Basketball, and a McDonald’s All-American, White nearly fell into the streets of Goldsboro. The small, predominantly African American town of roughly 35,000 has struggled with poverty and gang violence. With fewer than 20 percent of adults holding four-year degrees and a median household income just over $47,000, the environment offered few avenues for upward mobility.
White said many of his childhood friends have faced incarceration or even death due to violence. “A lot of guys that I grew up with — a lot of them still in Goldsboro — really [are] not doing much, [are] still incarcerated or they’re no longer living,” he said. “I felt like it was my job to use my platform and where I’m at to help future generations in areas where I grew up—to expose them to new truths, different types of job avenues, and mental health resources.”
Through basketball and the CWFF, White is proving that opportunity, guidance, and resilience can alter the trajectory of a life. As he continues to develop as a player and leader, White’s story serves as a powerful reminder of how one person’s decisions and determination can ripple outward, shaping both communities and the next generation of young leaders.
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