Coby White doesn’t do many dunks. But when you do it, it makes it worth it.
The Chicago Bulls guard delivered one of the best dunks of the NBA season Monday night with a dagger sign draped over the outstretched arms of none other than Victor Wembanyama. The dunk capped a fantastic final minute for White, who beat Wembanyama for the go-ahead score a few seconds early to help secure a 114-110 Chicago victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Bulls outscored the Spurs, 32-15 in the fourth quarter of the game as Chicago rallied from a 79-60 second-half deficit. After the Bulls trailed 97-82 early in the fourth quarter, White gave Chicago its first lead of the game by beating Wembanyama with 47.1 seconds left.
White found himself face to face with Wembanyama guarding him near the 3-point line after a screen. He was undeterred by the 7-4 favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. White, an athletic 6-5 guard, took advantage of the perimeter mismatch and drove Wembanyama to the hole for a layup that scored over Wembanyama’s outstretched right hand.
The basket gave Chicago a 111-110 lead. On Chicago’s next possession, White lowered the boom.
This time he freed himself from Jeremy Sochan with a feint from the wing and went uncovered to the rim. Wembanyama turned around to try to block the help side. But it was in vain. White put the ball through the hoop over a defenseless Wembanyama.
The dunk was simply White’s second of the season. It extended Chicago’s lead to 113-10 with 15.9 seconds remaining, and the Spurs did not score again. White finished the game with 23 points, four assists and four steals, and two huge baskets on Wembanyama to secure the Bulls’ victory.
“We had a joke like: someone has to try (do a dunk at Wembanyama).” saying Zach LaVine, who finished just short of a triple-double with 35 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. “I tried but it didn’t work. So I’m happy and a little envious because Coby has two dunks this year. One of them is at Wemby. So, congratulations.”
And this was not a bad night for Wembanyama. He had one of the best defensive nights of his outstanding second season, adding 23 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. He simply had nothing for White at the decisive moment.