Admittedly, I’m a little biased when it comes to Chicago sports teams — except the White Sox, of course. But just hours ahead of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls Play-In playoff game against the Miami Heat, I came across the story of Bulls star guard Coby White, and what I read was a great story of a young man’s positive journey to stardom through perseverance.
Speaking to longtime Bulls beat writer Sam Smith, White spoke about not worrying about where he stood in the hierarchy of the Bulls lineup, whether he was a starter or coming off the bench. He wanted, and still wants, to be the best player he can be in the court time he’s given to try and help his team to victory — a true sign of a leader.
But one thing that stood out to me was what White said in terms of his faith and giving credit to God for guiding him on his “journey” from his college years at North Carolina to being drafted by the Bulls to coming off the bench to becoming a starter to becoming a leader on his team.
“I know I’ve still got a long ways to go. But it’s been a journey for me personally and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I wouldn’t change anything I've been through because everything that has transpired over these last five, six years kind of made be a better person, a better player, a better teammate, a better leader. In life, sometimes you have to go through certain things to get what you want and I think God is always preparing you for those moments and I feel with my journey the first four or five years God may not have thought I was ready, that I needed more maturing, maybe more learning. But that was OK. I just wanted to stay patient and continue to be who I am and contribute to work and to strive to be the player who I try to become each and every day. I always give God all the thanks and all the glory because He kind of put me on this journey and He instilled me with the faith and patience to withstand all the trials and tribulations.”
Even as Smith, the writer and interviewer, admitted that he sometimes omitted players proclamations of faith over the years because of his perception of “this historic American principle of the separation of church and sports,” he noted that he couldn’t this time around because “it is a vital part of who [White] is.”
White continued:
“I was raised to lead with love, raised to put God first and raised to uplift and spread positivity; that’s kind of how my family is. I look back at my life, growing up in one of the poorest cities in North Carolina. I look back and think, ‘How did I get here?’ I really don’t have an explanation. And then all I can point to is God and my family growing up, my mom, my dad. My dad got on his hands and knees every single night and prayed out loud to God. I saw that every night. He never missed a night, and growing up when you see that stuff you know as a kid you start to take home what your parents are doing. The closer I got to God was after losing my father. I really needed the outlet.[…]
He was there for me and got me through that time and ever since then I got closer and closer and, like you said, some media outlets they… but it is what it is. For me. God saved my life. He changed my life for the better, changed my family’s lives for the better. So for me I’m going to continue to spread that gospel. No matter if you don’t like it or not I’m going to continue to give thanks and all the glory to my Lord and Savior.”
While I admit to having faith and believing in God, but not being the most religious person, you can tell from the passion with which he speaks that he has a good head on his shoulders and a drive live up to and give thanks to God for the physical gifts he was given.
If you’re not familiar with White, take a look at some highlights from his career below:
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