For Chicago Bulls guard Coby White, the game of basketball has always been more than a sport. It was a lifeline, a compass that steered him away from the dangers of his environment and toward a future filled with possibility.
Growing up in North Carolina, White remembers the pivotal moment when his peers began drifting into gang culture. At just 13 or 14 years old, he faced a choice that could have altered his life forever.
“I knew that if I got in trouble, I couldn’t play the game I loved,” White has said.
That clarity, in a split second, kept him on the court and away from the streets.
That decision not only saved White from the fate many of his friends endured but also set him on a path to the NBA. Drafted by the Bulls in 2019, he has since grown into one of the team’s most dynamic young guards, with aspirations of becoming an All-Star. But even as his career blossoms, White has never forgotten the crossroads of his youth, or the responsibility he feels to help others facing similar struggles.
Recently, White re-launched the Coby White Family Foundation (CWFF), an initiative designed to provide underprivileged Black and brown youth with resources that extend far beyond the basketball court. The foundation focuses on:
- Holistic mental health support to help young people navigate emotional challenges.
- Equitable opportunities in education and community development.
- Creative empowerment programs that encourage self-expression and resilience.
The CWFF’s work is centered in both Chicago, where White has made his professional home, and North Carolina, where his journey began.
White is determined to use his platform to steer young people away from the same temptations he once faced.
“Violence ain’t ever the answer,” he emphasizes. “There’s more to life than gang violence, more to life than being in a gang, more to life than what they’ve seen so far.”
By sharing his own story of near-misses and hard choices, White hopes to show that success is possible without succumbing to the pressures of the streets. His message is simple but powerful: the right decision, even in a single moment, can change everything.
For White, basketball was never just about points, assists, or accolades. It was a shield, a sanctuary, and ultimately, a springboard to a better life. Now, through his foundation, he’s working to ensure that the game, and the lessons it taught him, can do the same for the next generation.
