Coby White was excited to make his home debut at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on Saturday, following the Chicago Bulls’ trade of him and Mike Conley to the Hornets in exchange for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng, and 2031 draft picks.
It was an outpouring of joy for the 6’4″ guard when his former three-time national champion coach, Roy Williams, stopped by the arena to watch the Charlotte Hornets’ 109-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Coby White Reacts to Roy Williams’ Surprise Appearance in Home Debut for Charlotte
White was asked about Williams’ presence at a postgame press conference. Although he knew the former Kansas and North Carolina coach was coming to watch his home debut, White could not hide his joy at seeing Williams courtside.
“He called me last night, told me he was coming through,” White said. “Obviously, a legendary coach, but I’ve been gone six, seven years, for him to still reach out, our relationship is bigger than basketball. He’s helped me through a lot of tough times in my life, and he continues to help me.”
Williams coached White during the 2018-19 season and, in a November 2019 interview, recalled telling White’s biological father, Donald, that his son would play in the NBA. Donald White died of liver cancer in August 2017.
“He said, ‘When that happens, I want you to give him the right kind of guidance,'” Williams, who guided the Tar Heels to three national championships in 2005, 2009, and 2017, said.
When the former Tar Heels guard was interviewed at halftime, he described the former coach’s appearance at the Spectrum Center as a “blessing.”
“It’s a blessing, him being at my first home game,” White stated.
The Goldsboro, North Carolina-born guard was a five-star recruit from Greenfield School. He committed to the Tar Heels on July 28, 2016, and signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Roy Williams’ North Carolina on Nov. 8, 2017.
White scored 34 points against Syracuse on Feb. 26, 2019, and helped the Tar Heels reach the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Iona and Washington in the first two rounds before losing to Auburn in the Sweet Sixteen.
He was selected No. 7 overall by Chicago in the 2019 NBA Draft. White played for more than seven seasons with the Bulls, averaging 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game.
Williams’ presence helped White on the court in his home debut. Coming off the bench, he finished with 20 points, three rebounds, and one assist in 21 minutes. He shot 5 of 13 from the field, including 2 of 6 from beyond the arc, and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.
The Hornets are on a four-game winning streak, moving to 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings at 30-31. White has helped the Hornets win three of the four games, averaging 12.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 3.7 apg.
