Minutes after realizing his boyhood dream of making it to the NBA, Coby White was answering questions about playing for the Bulls when a reporter informed him that his North Carolina teammate Cam Johnson had been drafted 11th to play for the Suns.

Over the next 50 seconds, White used the words “wow” six times, “crazy” four times, “happy” twice and “love” once.

The video clip, oozing sincerity and selflessness, went viral. But it didn’t at all surprise those who know White best. They say the natural leader almost always is thinking about playing for somebody else.

“How can anybody do any better than what he did there?” said Roy Williams, North Carolina’s Hall of Fame coach. “He’s going to be an NBA player and he goes wacko talking about Cam and how hard Cam worked.

“I’ve always said it takes a special person to really rejoice and enjoy other people’s successes. And you saw that last night with Coby talking about Cam. The Bulls are getting a really, really talented player. They’re also getting a great teammate.”

It’s not hard to see the person who has the biggest impact on White’s joyful court demeanor. Just look at his pink shoes from any of the highlights of his lone season playing for Williams’ Tar Heels. White wears them to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Better yet, read White’s potent and poignant essay titled, “For My Father,” on The Players’ Tribune. Published three days before the Bulls used the No. 7 pick on White in hopes of accelerating their rebuild, the essay powerfully details how much he misses his father, Donald, who died of liver cancer in August 2017.

White writes that the “FMF” tattoo on his arm stands for “For My Father” and the Roman numerals below it represent the day the man everybody called “Doc” died. Donald White played basketball for North Carolina Central from 1970 to ’73.

“We talked a lot about it, and he kind of used it as motivation,” said Rob Salter, who coached White for four varsity seasons at Greenfield School in Wilson, N.C. “And basketball was kind of his escape route because he was doing something he loves. He always wanted to please his dad. That’s his drive. His family is what motivates him.”

It’s no wonder, then, that White’s family — mother Bonita and older siblings Tia and William — surrounded him for a celebratory group photo in New York after his selection. The joyful shot also featured extended family members, close friends and Salter, crouching low in front.

“He just wanted his loved ones there,” Salter said. “He wanted to share that night with everybody who has meant something to him. And it was a special night. It’s a night I’ll never forget. We’re family. Coby is like my own. He’s a phenomenal basketball player. But I always tell people that he’s a better person.”

Salter still remembers the “little 6-foot, 130-pound guard who wasn’t very athletic” who tried out for varsity his freshman season. Despite the small stature, White’s knack for putting the ball in the hoop jumped out.

“He could finish around the rim, even though he was below it at the time,” Salter said.

When White’s growth spurt hit — “five inches, eight if you count his hair,” Salter cracked — his confidence grew as well.

“And his athleticism kicked in,” Salter said. “He went to another level.”

Salter has a picture in his school office of White with closely cropped hair from White’s freshman season. By the end of his decorated high school career, White’s talent had grown as much as his signature hairdo. He supplanted former Bulls second-round pick JamesOn Curry’s state scoring record with 3,511 points.

By that time, White had committed to North Carolina. The first time Williams watched White play in an AAU game during the summer, White had five dunks and five 3-pointers.

“That’s a pretty good combination,” Williams said.

But the first scouting report came from North Carolina players who played a pickup game with White during a campus visit that NCAA rules prohibited Williams from watching. Williams spent the time chatting with Donald instead.

“Our guys came in and said, ‘Coach, this guy is pretty good.’ And this was the summer after his sophomore year,” Williams said. “Better yet, his dad pretty doggone early said, ‘Coach, I want him to play for you.’ That was one of those moments that I’ll never forget.

“His dad was a sweetheart of a guy. Everybody loved him. We had some good discussions, even later on when he got sick and could still talk on the phone.”

Perhaps that’s why Williams’ blessing for White’s one-and-done status at North Carolina meant so much to White. Few expected the 6-foot-5 guard to establish himself so quickly, particularly on a team that started three seniors. Even White told Williams he never expected to play only season in Chapel Hill.

“He’s a great, instinctive leader,” Williams said. “He had three seniors that were the leaders of the club, but he was the point guard. And they loved him and loved the way he thought about the team.

“I love the pace that he can push the ball. I just put the ball in his hands. I love to play at a fast pace, and I hope the Bulls do a little bit of that because that’s what he’s really special at is pushing the ball.”

White is the Bulls’ first first-round pick from North Carolina since Michael Jordan in 1984. Nobody is placing pressure on White from any ridiculous comparisons between the two other than that fun fact. Salter even joked that Jordan has now dropped to No. 2 on his list of favorite all-time NBA players.

“Off the court, (White) is such a humble kid,” Salter said. “He’s going to be the ultimate teammate. He competes every single play. I think he’ll earn the respect of all the fans.

“And you know what? His dad was there (on draft night.)”

Moments after the aforementioned celebratory photo was snapped, White spoke to reporters via conference call. He didn’t pause when asked what his father would’ve said to him on the night he officially entered the NBA.

“He’d tell me how proud he was for me and how he loved me and he would just tell me this is only the beginning for me,” White said. “I’ve got a lot of success coming my way. I’ve just got to stay on the right path, continue to be who I am, be myself, stay true to myself, never forget where I came from and just continue to work like I have my whole life.”

Williams is confident that will happen.

“You know, the kid is playing for himself,” Williams said. “He’s playing because he loves the game of basketball. He’s playing because he can lose himself into the game.

“But he’s also playing to honor his father. I felt so privileged to have been his coach for one year and give him a little bit of guidance from a different perspective in his down times.

“And that kid is going to play some big-time basketball. He’s very competitive. He’s also a sweetheart of a kid. I just know I’m going to be a tremendous Chicago Bulls fan for a long time.”