CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets are bringing Coby White back home to North Carolina, where he is the state’s career high school scoring leader and played for the Tar Heels.
The Hornets agreed to acquire White from the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had yet to be approved by the league.
ESPN reported that the Hornets are also getting Mike Conley Jr. in the deal, while the Bulls will get Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three of Charlotte's second-round draft picks.
White, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 draft, joins a Hornets team that is surging toward its first playoff appearance in a decade, having won seven straight games behind a young core of players.
He averaged 18.6 points, 4.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Bulls, shooting 34.6% from 3-point range — down slightly from his career average of 36.8%.
Although it's unclear where he fits into the Hornets' rotation, White gives Charlotte yet another scorer join LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges. The Hornets are 23-28 and currently 11th in the the Eastern Conference, but they are 12-1 when they've started a lineup that includes Ball, Miller, Knueppel, Bridges and center Moussa Diabate — all of whom are now healthy.
Knueppel has won three straight Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards, while Miller was named last week's conference Player of the Week.
The 25-year-old White has spent seven seasons with the Bulls, averaging 15.4 points, 3.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds.
Sexton has been Ball's primary backup at point guard this season and has given the Hornets a boost off the bench, averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 assists in 42 games while shooting 39.3% on 3s.
White scored 3,573 points for Greenfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina, from 2014-18.
White played one season in college at North Carolina before turning pro. He continues to host youth basketball camps on campus during the offseason.
Reynolds reported from Miami.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Charlotte Hornets guard Collin Sexton, top, and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. look to a referee in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) drives to the basket as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (13) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — It's Manchester City vs. Arsenal in the English League Cup final.
The current top two in the Premier League will go head-to-head at Wembley Stadium next month after City beat Newcastle 3-1 on Wednesday to complete a 5-1 win on aggregate in the semifinals.
Both City and Arsenal are still in contention for a clean sweep of trophies this season. The League Cup is the chance to lift the first piece of major silverware this term and to potentially inflict a psychological blow in the race for the title.
“We’re here to win trophies and we give our best every day to reach these finals and win the silverware,” City forward Omar Marmoush - who scored two goals on the night - told Sky Sports.
Arsenal currently leads the standings by six points ahead of second-place City. Both teams are through to the round of 16 in the Champions League and and fourth round of the FA Cup.
The League Cup final is on March 22.
Two first-half goals from Marmoush at the Etihad effectively finished off Newcastle in a semifinal where City led 2-0 from the first leg. Tijjani Reijnders added another before the break.
Newcastle scored a consolation through substitute Anthony Elanga and prevented what looked like being a rout after the first 45 minutes.
Arsenal booked its place in the final with a 1-0 win against Chelsea on Tuesday to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory.
The final will continue the recent rivalry between the clubs, which has seen City beat Arsenal to the title in 2023 and '24. On both occasions Arsenal had led the way before being overhauled.
Mikel Arteta’s team is ahead again this season and aiming to win the title for the first time since 2004.
The League Cup would be Arteta’s first major trophy since his debut season as Arsenal manager when he won the FA Cup in 2020.
He was formerly Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City and victory in the final would see him finally beat his former colleague to a major trophy.
Guardiola, meanwhile, will get the chance to win a 16th major trophy since taking over at City in 2016 and his fifth League Cup.
City is looking to win it for the ninth time and move within one of Liverpool’s record haul of 10 in the competition.
Arsenal has won the trophy twice - most recently in 1993.
This year’s final will be a repeat of 2018, when Arteta was part of Guardiola’s coaching team as City triumphed.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
-mu9-, left, and Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov fight for the ball during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates their second goal during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring during the English League Cup semifinal soccer match soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
