Today’s Hottest Take: Coby White is the Spark this Team Desperately Needs

The Chicago Bulls sit at 6–6, right back in familiar territory in the Eastern Conference standings — hovering around ninth place entering Monday. They’ve now dropped five straight games heading into Monday night's matchup against the Denver Nuggets. And while the recent schedule has thrown some of the league’s toughest teams at them, the reality is simple: this team misses its spark plug.

Even with the growth ofJosh Giddey and second-year player Matas Buzelis, the Bulls are lacking one thing that defined their late-season surge last year — a go-to scorer who can create something out of nothing when possessions fall apart. That was Coby White’s role, and last season he delivered at an elite level, averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists down the stretch. His breakout run didn’t just boost the offense; it propelled the Bulls to a play-in berth they earned instead of stumbled into.

In previous seasons, Chicago limped into the play-in by scraping together barely passable basketball. Last year felt different. A 15–5 close to the season built real momentum heading into a matchup with the Miami Heat — and even though the Bulls eventually fell short, there was finally a sense of direction.

What You Need to Know: The Bulls can Compete — but only if they’re Healthy

Despite the five straight losses, the Bulls have shown fight. They’ve been shorthanded, undermanned and still competitive most nights — but the margin for error is razor thin without their two lead guards.

Friday’s loss to the Bucks saw Giannis Antetokounmpo do whatever he wanted. The next night, the Bulls went toe-to-toe with one of the East’s best in Cleveland, ultimately falling short by six — and that was the night Josh Giddey famously got crossed up. Monday brought another close battle, this time with the San Antonio Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama continued his ascent into superstardom as Chicago lost by just three without either Giddey or White.

But the most disappointing showing came Wednesday. A matchup against a shorthanded Pistons team should’ve been an opportunity to stabilize. Instead, the defense looked flat, the energy dipped, and the Bulls failed to capitalize. After the game, Billy Donovan didn’t sugarcoat it:

“We are not talented enough not to play desperate. If we do not play that way, we are not good enough to stay in games.”

He’s not wrong. This team needs effort and urgency to level the playing field — and missing two of the roster’s three primary creators only magnifies that.

The good news? Help is coming. Coby White played for the first time this season against the Jazz, and the offense has looked crisp structurally. Reinserting the team’s best downhill threat should be a smooth transition, given this is essentially the same core that closed last year so strong.

Zach Collins is also nearing a return from a preseason wrist fracture that sidelined him roughly four weeks. His presence will add size, rim protection and rotational flexibility for a frontcourt that could use reinforcements.

Before You Go: It’s Not Time to Panic — There’s Still Real Fight in This Team

I’m a Bulls fan. I usually approach this team with a glass-half-full outlook — even when they haven’t earned it. But this group has shown something important these last few games: fight.

They battled the Cavaliers until the final minutes. They pushed the Spurs without Giddey or White. They’ve shown flashes of the connected, selfless style of play that Giddey brings when he’s on the court — his drive-and-kick instincts make the offense hum, and his ability to bend defenses gives Chicago a real identity.

Adding White back into the mix could elevate the Bulls to an entirely different level. Tre Jones has held the fort admirably as a starting guard, but he’s best suited as a high-end backup. Coby brings the scoring punch, the shot creation, and the late-game reliability this team is missing.

If the Bulls can get healthy — Giddey, White, Collins — they absolutely have the pieces to compete in the East and emerge as a sneaky playoff threat.

The season is far from over. The fight is still there. They just need their spark back.