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HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 11: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls in action against the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on March 11, 2023 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Hornets are still playing the waiting game with Coby White’s debut.

Ahead of the Hornets’ matchup against the Houston Rockets on Thursday, head coach Charles Lee offered a cautious but encouraging update on White’s recovery from a lingering calf injury. While there’s still no firm return date, the overall direction remains positive.

“There’s no real timeline right now,” Lee told reporters on Wednesday, via DaShawn Brown of WSOC-TV. “The All-Star break was very beneficial for him to be able to proceed with his rehab plan. He’s taken some really good positive steps and he’s trending in the right direction.”

This certainly cools earlier optimism from the organization, which had previously pointed to the post–All-Star break window as a potential target for White to officially step into the rotation. Instead, the Hornets are choosing patience — a long-view approach that reflects how highly the franchise values him as a core piece of its future.

Hornets Still Prioritizing Rebuild Despite Pre- All-Star Break Surge

White arrived to the Hornets as the star of a major early-February trade engineered by Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson.

The seven-year NBA veteran had spent his entire career with the Chicago Bulls before the move, instantly becoming one of the franchise’s most important long-term investments.

But Hornets fans have yet to see him in action, as he remains sidelined with a calf strain.

As a result, Charlotte will continue using the same ten-man group it ran before the All-Star break.

LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Grant Williams, Kon Knueppel, and Ryan Kalkbrenner will likely continue to start. Tre Mann, Josh Green, Sion James, Tidjane Salaun, and PJ Hall will spearhead the bench unit.

It’ll be interesting to see how White eventually alters this talented rotation. The Hornets appear to be focused on protecting their new asset — especially given White’s injury history and long-term value.

Coby White’s Long-Term Role

Internally, nothing has changed about how Charlotte views White’s importance. The organization acquired his Bird rights in the trade, giving the franchise flexibility to retain him long-term once he reaches unrestricted free agency — a clear signal that he’s seen as more than a short-term piece.

White has embraced that vision.

“As soon as I touched down, I felt wanted,” he said after the trade. “Everybody here keeps talking about long term. Hearing that somewhere you’re valued for the long term, especially being back home, it means a lot.”

From a basketball standpoint, Lee sees White as a versatile offensive engine who can elevate multiple lineups.

For now, patience is the strategy.

The Hornets aren’t rushing the timeline, and White isn’t being forced back onto the floor. The debut will come when the medical staff is fully confident.

For now, White stays positioned as a foundational piece of the Hornets’ future.

Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn

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