After getting a taste of the postseason for the first time since 2017, the Chicago Bulls can look forward to the 2022-23 season with the official release of the 2022-23 schedule.
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Chicago will start the 2022-23 season on the road against former Bull Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on October 19th. Two nights later, they will play against the Washington Wizards. Chicago will have their home opener on Saturday, October 22nd, against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Which will start a three-game homestand that includes an October 24th matchup against the Boston Celtics, who are the favorites to win the 2023 NBA Finals. The last game of the homestand will be against the Indiana Pacers on October 26th.
The Bulls will have their nationally televised game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 29th on NBA TV. One week later, they will play twice on ESPN, November 2nd against the Charlotte Hornets and November 4th against the Boston Celtics.
Chicago will get the chance to see 2021-22 MVP Nikola Jokic on November 13rd at the United Center. On December 28th, Chicago will look to get revenge against the Bucks in Milwaukee. The Bulls went 2-0 last season against the Nuggets. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr did not play in both games last season. Chicago’s only win last season against the Bucks was game 2 of the first round 2022 Playoffs.
The defending champion Golden State Warriors visit Chicago for the first time on January 15th on ESPN. Four days later, Chicago will play their first international game in Paris against Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. Chicago will get a taste of the new look Atlanta Hawks with All-Star Dejounte Murray at the United Center on January 23rd. The Bulls would then proceed to go on a three-game road trip. During the three-game road trip, Chicago will face the Charlotte Hornets on January 26th on TNT. This game will be a part of Rivals Week, which was introduced today by the NBA.
Within a three-day period, Chicago will face Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. The first matchup will happen on March 26th, and the second matchup will be at the United Center on March 29th. Chicago will finish the 2022-23 regular season at home against the Detroit Pistons.
Other Highlights of the Bulls Schedule
9 Games in the first 15 days of season
10 Nationally Televised Games (7 ESPN and 3 TNT Games)
The Bulls have 15 back-to-back scenarios on the schedule
No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero makes two visits to the United Center with the Orlando Magic, first on Nov. 18 and again on Feb 13
The Chicago Bulls have announced today that undrafted free agent Justin Lewis will be out indefinitely with a right ACL injury that occurred during a workout last Friday and will require surgery. Lewis, who signed a two-way contract in June after draft night, will look to recover fully. According to a source to Bulls Insider, K.C. Johnson, the workout was away from the Bulls.
Justin Lewis had an alright showing in Vegas, with the Bulls averaging 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. He scored in double-digits once (11 Points), which happened in the last game against the Philadelphia 76ers last month. Lewis averaged 16.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists during his sophomore season. He earned First-team All-Big East honors and the Big East Most Improved Player award.
While the Bulls did not announce a timetable for a return, typically, it takes 6-9 months to recover from an ACL injury. That would mean Lewis would be out until February if he fully recovers. When Lewis returns, he will likely spend most of his time with the Windy City Bulls. Remember some important dates for the Windy City Bulls, January 5, G League 36-game regular season begins, and April 2, the NBA G League Regular Season ends.
Other Bulls News
Carlik Jones signs Training Camp Contract with Bulls
After a strong showing in Vegas with the Bulls Summer League team, Carlik Jones signs a training camp deal with the Chicago Bulls. The contract is a one-year non-guaranteed/ $1.02M. During the 2022 Summer League in Vegas, Jones averaged 11.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 2.2 steals in 5 games. That includes a 17-point performance, shooting 7-for-7 from the field against the Toronto Raptors. He led the Bulls in assists in all four wins.
2022-23 Chicago Bulls Schedule leaks
According to NBC Chicago Sports, David Kaplan, Chicago will start the 2022-23 season on the road against the Miami Heat on October 19th. The home opener will be on October 22nd against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The 2022-23 Bulls 82-game schedule will be fully released Wednesday afternoon.
After the Summer League and free agency period ended last month, there has not been much going with the Chicago Bulls. Usually, August and the first couple of September are the dead periods of the NBA calendar. But there have been some short and some significant storylines in the NBA community and some injury news. DeMar DeRozan has been busy with the Drew League in Los Angeles, and other Bulls to play with him include Lebron James, Patrick Williams, and most recently, Bulls 2022 first-round pick Dalen Terry. Here are some Bulls storylines that have come out recently from the past week.
Justin Lewis suffers serious knee injury during workout- August 11th
Justin Lewis, who signed a two-way with the Chicago Bulls after the Marquette forward went undrafted in the 2022 draft, is believed to have suffered a potentially serious knee injury during his workout late last Thursday. The forward averaged 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 22.5 minutes while in Las Vegas. There have still been no updates on the status of Lewis for the upcoming season.
Lewis got brought to Chicago to possibly be a contributor at the NBA level with his 7-2 wingspan and physicality at the 4 position. He can best be compared to Bulls forward Patrick Williams with the size and wingspan. But if he can start the season fully healthy, he will look to improve his offensive game and on-ball defense with the Windy City Bulls.
NBA to retire the Number 6 in honor of Bill Russell – August 12th
The NBA announced they would retire number 6 in honor of Bill Russell for his lifetime dedication to civil rights activism and social justice and his accomplishments on the court. But current players who already wear No. 6, like the Lakers’ LeBron James, can continue to wear the uniform number. That also means Alex Caruso will be the last Bull to wear the number 6. Chicago had 19 players all-time wear the number 6 jersey.
Adam Silver in a statement said, “Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way. Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.” Bill Russell died on July 31st, he was 88 years old.
Dalen Terry Drops 56 Points in Seattle Pro Am Game – August 13th
Chicago Bulls 1st Rd pick Dalen Terry dropped 56Pts, 15Reb, 7Ast at The Crawsover Pro Am pic.twitter.com/NBagxbdhQO
Chicago Bulls 2022 First Round Pick from the University of Arizona, Dalen Terry, put on a show for the fans in Seattle during Jamal Crawford’s Seattle-based “The CrawsOver” Pro-Am league. Terry dropped a crazy stat line of 56 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. This performance comes a week after playing in the Drew League alongside Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu.
Jamal Crawford played for the Chicago Bulls early in his career, from 2000-2004. Crawford and Bulls Zach Lavine, a native of Seattle, have a bond, which led to a connection for Terry to get the chance to suit up. Terry will look to play in other pro-am league games before training camp late next month.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves the door for possibility to play for Chicago – August 14th
In promoting his new ambassadorship with the Telehealth company Antidote Health, Antetokounmpo got asked about the possibility of playing for the Bulls someday. His response surprised fans when Giannis said he would like the opportunity to play in Chicago but repeated his commitment to the Bucks 100%.
“I think anybody you ask that question that plays basketball, if he said no, he’d be a liar,” Antetokounmpo said in the interview with Fox 32 Chicago. “It’s a team that won multiple championships; it’s a team that one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player to ever play this game, played for. So it’s a no-brainer; everybody would love to play for Chicago.”
Giannis will be a free agent after the 2025-26 season and will be 31 years old. But he will still have prime years left in his career. Chicago has beaten Giannis and the Bucks once since the 2017 season. That win was game two during the 2022 Playoffs, but the Bucks got the last word when beating the Bulls in 5 games in the first round. Giannis averaged 28.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 6.2 assists during the five-game series.
(Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
ESPN reporter Jamal Collier said, “There’s confidence in Lonzo Ball’s camp that Lonzo Ball will be ready for the start of the 2022-23 season.” On January 14th, Ball suffered a season-ending meniscus injury in his left knee against the Golden State Warriors. During the summer league, Bulls general Manager and VP Arturas Karnisovas didn’t reveal much about his health. Ball declined to speak to the media on his status last month in Vegas. The unknown status of Ball led to the signing of veteran guard Goran Dragic, but now Ball should be ready for the season opener.
There was some optimism Ball would return for the second half of the season, but eventually, he got shut down for the season. After the All-Star break, Ball began to work out and tried to get back to 100%. But felt discomfort and pain, which led to the official shutdown in early April. Ball has played only one season where he played at least 60 games, which was in the 2019-20 season. Lonzo played 35 games in his first season in Chicago.
Before January 14th, Chicago was on top of the Eastern Conference with a 27-12 record. One of the significant reasons Chicago fell to the 6th seed during the second half of the season was no Lonzo Ball in the lineup. Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. After January 14th, Chicago had a 19-23 record without Ball. Chicago’s most significant weaknesses when Ball was out were defense and offensive transition, which are two strengths of Ball.
If Chicago has plans to be in the top tier of the Eastern Conference, Ball must play and be healthy for at least 60 games for the 2022-23 season. Ball could possibly rest more during the season so he can be healthy during the postseason. Ball isn’t the only Bull to recover from an injury, don’t forget about Zach Lavine. Lavine underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery on May 24th and should be ready to start opening night in October.
(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Chicago Bulls has existed for 56 years and have proved some of the greatest players to play in the National Basketball Association. Chicago has Four out of the five players on this list have made it to the basketball Hall of Fame except for Derrick Rose. But only three out of the five players made it to the NBA Top 75 List, Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman. Here is my list of the top 5 greatest basketball players in Chicago Bulls history.
5. Dennis Rodman
Seasons in Chicago: 3 (1995-1998)
Chicago Stats: 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists
Accomplishments: All-Defensive First Team (1996), 3 Time Rebounding Champion (1996-98), 3 Time NBA Champion (1996-98)
The number five spot could have been players like Artis Gilmore or Bob Love, but Dennis Rodman made the cut. Before coming to Chicago in 1995, Rodman was a part of the Bad Boys in Detroit and San Antonio Spurs. Even Scottie Pippen didn’t want Rodman, but he ended up being significant in the Bulls’ second 3-peat history.
In the short amount of seasons in Chicago (3), he contributed with his rebounding ability and sometimes with his mid-range shot when Pippen or Jordan was out. He led the league in rebounding each season while in Chicago and averaged at least 14 rebounds per season. Rodman also holds team records for offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, and total rebounding percentage. Without Rodman, Jordan and Pippen would 100% not have won six rings.
4. Jerry Sloan
Seasons in Chicago: 10 (1966-1976)
Chicago Stats: 14.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists
Accomplishments: 4 Time All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1972, 1974, 1975), 2 Time All-Defensive Second Team (1970, 1971), 2x All-Star (1967, 1969)
Many NBA fans and Bulls might remember Jerry Sloan for his coaching days with the Utah Jazz. But before Pippen existed, Sloan was considered the most excellent defender in Chicago Bulls history, with most of his accomplishments being his work on the defensive end of the ball. During his ten seasons in Chicago, he made All-Defense first team four times. If Jordan and Pippen never existed, Sloan would be in the top 2 for games played, minutes, and total rebounds.
Sloan got 10,233 career points to enter the 10K club and averaged 2.2 steals per game, which is second among career averages in Chicago Bulls history. Sloan holds the team record for defensive rating, while his 36.6 defensive win shares rank. After his playing days were over, he would go on to coach the Utah Jazz and face Jordan and Pippen in the 1997 and 1998 Finals. Bulls fans know who won the Finals in both of those years.
3. Derrick Rose
Seasons in Chicago: 8(2008-2016)
Chicago Stats: 19.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.7 rebounds
Accomplishments:Rookie Of The Year (2009), 3 Time All-Star (2010-12), All-NBA First-Team (2011), MVP Award (2011)
Chicago’s very own and former number one pick of the 2008 Draft, Derrick Rose, became a superstar early in his career. He earned MVP honors in his third season, and Rose is still the youngest MVP in the history of the NBA. But during the first round of the 2012 playoffs, he got a torn ACL and would simply not get back to his old self. If Rose never got hurt, he would possibly have the chance to be number two on this list and would have won a championship. But that never happened, and he is still looking for that ring, but it will not likely occur with the New York Knicks.
After eight seasons in Chicago, he got traded to the New York Knicks and bounced around with some teams before ending up in New York. Before returning to the Big Apple, he dropped a career-high 50 points during his time in Minnesota. Rose got a new 6th man role on the Knicks and was a significant piece of the Knicks during the 2021 Postseason. But the Knicks lost in five games against the Atlanta Hawks.
2. Scottie Pippen
Seasons in Chicago: 13 (1987-1998, 2003-2004)
ChicagoStats: 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists
Accomplishments: 7 Time All-Star (1990, 1992-97), All-Star Game MVP (1994), 3 Time All-NBA First-Team (1994-96), 2 Time All-NBA Second-Team (1992, 1997), 2 Time All-NBA Third-Team (1993, 1998), 7x All-Defensive First-Team (1992-98, All-Defensive Second-Team (1991), Steals Leader (1995), 6 Time NBA Champion (1991-93, 1996-98)
Passing these top 2 players will be challenging to do, even if Rose won a title. Scottie Pippen could be number one on another team’s list, but his teammate was 100% better than him. Pippen won six times in the Windy City and was one of the best two-way players in the history of the NBA. He could quickly get you 20 points but also can defend the opponent’s best player at any moment. Nobody else could have played better than him alongside Michael Jordan.
Pippen is second in Bulls history with most games, minutes, field goals, two-point field goals, assists, steals, and points. Once Jordan left in 1993, Pippen got his chance as the number one guy but never got the help to reach the NBA Finals. Plus, Rodman didn’t arrive yet in the Windy City. He will forever live in the shadow of Jordan, but he deserves respect and credit for accomplishments and being key to two 3-peats in Chicago.
1. Michael Jordan
The most outstanding player in NBA history and Bulls history is by far Michael Jordan. If you ask someone to name me a basketball player, most of the time, that name will be Michael Jordan. Jordan dominated the basketball game with the mid-range shot and his fear factor, which helped the Bulls earn six titles in 8 seasons. During those two seasons, he didn’t lose in the finals; he played baseball for the Chicago White Sox in honor of his father, who passed away in 1993. Jordan’s father wanted him to play baseball.
Jordan owns the most points, rebounds, assists, and steals with the team. He ranks second in blocks. He has 29,277 career points, over 14,000 more than Pippen, who ranks second. Jordan is number one on most Bulls lists and will stay number one for a long time. Without Jordan, Chicago will not have any titles and will not be worth as much as $3.65 Billion.
Seasons in Chicago: 13
Stats: 31.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists
Accomplishments: Rookie Of The Year (1985), All-NBA Second Team (1985), 12 Time All-Star (1985-93, 1996-98), 10 Time All-NBA First Team (1987-93,1996-98), Time Slam Dunk Contest Champion (1987, 1988), 10 Time Scoring Champion (1987-93, 1996-98), Defensive Player Of The Year (1988), 5 Time MVP Award (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998), 3 Time All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998), 9 Time All-Defensive First Team (1988-93, 1996-98), 3 Time Steals Leader (1988, 1990, 1993), 6 Time Finals MVP (1991-93, 19966 Time NBA Champion (1991-93, 1996-98),
(Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Chicago Bulls are getting more veteran experience with Drummond and Dragic, but still, a young core interacted and some breakout players for the 2022-23 season. Last season the Bulls were at a league average of 25.2. But now, for the 2022-23 season, Chicago is getting a little older, with their average 26 years old. But Chicago will enter the 2022-23 season with five players under or at the age of 23 years old, Dalen Terry (20), Coby White (22), Marko Simonovic (22), and potential breakout seasons for Ayo Dosunmu (22) and Patrick Williams (23).
Patrick Williams
A breakout player means a breakout is a player that plays surprisingly well and exceeds expectations. Patrick Williams qualifies to be a breakout candidate. Williams, a former Florida State forward, will look to break out in his third season in the NBA. Last season, Williams got off to rough with getting a left wrist injury on a dunk attempt that made him sit out for about 4-6 months. But when he returned with 12 games remaining in the regular season, he showed flashes of becoming an excellent two-way player in the NBA with his long wingspan but hesitated taking jump shots, especially three-point shots.
In the regular season finale, he scored a career-high 35 points against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Note, most of the regular starters for both teams didn’t play because they were resting and saving their energy for the postseason. At only 20 years old, he had tough assignments against stars including Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first round of the 2022 Postseason.
Williams Interview with Stacy King
This summer, Williams traveled to Los Angeles to have an intense workout camp with teammate DeMar DeRozan. On Stacey King on his Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast, Williams explained about the extreme workouts and learning the mental aspect.
““I think it’s more so how he approaches the workouts as opposed to the actual routine,” Williams said when asked about what he’s learned. “Like I said, he gets up at 5am, it’s tough on the mental more than anything.”“We go at it in the workouts,”. “I think that’s another thing that makes him so good. He’s going against different people every summer. He invites different people out every summer, he goes against them in the workout.
For Chicago to make it past the first-round postseason and have a successful season, Williams must have a breakout season. He has the physical tools, but if he can show what he learned from DeRozan in Los Angeles, he will have a great year. Little quick shoutout to DeMar DeRozan for taking Williams under his wing and training him at home in Los Angeles.
Another breakout candidate can be second-year guard Ayo Dosunmu. With the large number of games missed by Chicago’s guards last season, Dosunmu got a significant amount of playing during his rookie season. He had great defensive performances, including his performance against Trae Young when he held Young to shoot 3-for-17 from the field. Dosunmu finished his rookie season with averages of 10.9 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 40 games as a starter.
The 2021 Second-Round pick has gotten reported as having a “monster offseason,” said K.C. Johnson on Bulls Talk Podcast last Tuesday, July 26th. Dosunmu could start the season as the starting point guard depending on the health of Lonzo Ball. Not only will Dosunmu be motivated to earn significant minutes in the Bulls rotation, but he will also be motivated to play well enough to earn some big bucks during the 2023 Free Agency period. However, I expect him to return to Chicago next season.
The NBA free agency period is coming to a close with no recent news of free agents, but the 2022-23 season is not that far away. With that, Chicago Bulls announced their preseason schedule, featuring three home games and one away game. There has been no news about when training camp will start; last year, Chicago started on September 28th. The Bulls will play their first preseason game at the United Center in 70 days on October 4th against Lonzo Ball’s former team, New Orleans Pelicans.
Bulls fans will check out Bulls 2022 First Round Pick Dalen Terry in an official Bulls jersey for the first ever. Also, fans will be able to see the other new additions of Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic. Hopefully, there is a chance of a Lonzo Ball return, but it seems unlikely. Chicago will look to get back to the postseason for the second straight season after finishing the 2021-22 season with a 46-36 record. Unfortunately, the Bulls lost in 5 games against the Bucks in the first round of the 2022 Playoffs. Chicago will release their 2022-23 season schedule next month.
Many didn’t expect much of the Summer League since Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosumnu wouldn’t play. But the Chicago Bulls had a successful Las Vegas trip and finished with a top 3 record at 4-1, with their lone loss coming against the New York Knicks, 101-69. Dalen Terry and Marko Simonovic were the two guys to watch out for, and they did not disappoint Chicago fans, but some players didn’t show up and weren’t impactful enough. Here are my Bulls Players Summer League Grades for the following players: Dalen Terry, Marko Simonovic, Carlik Jones, Malcolm Hill, Makur Maker, Justin Lewis, Javon Freemon-Liberty, and Ethan Thompson.
Dalen Terry
Stat Averages: 11.8 Points, 3.6 Rebounds, 1.2 assists
Two weeks before game one in Las Vegas, Dalen Terry got voted the most competitive player at the first team practice. Terry got more attention as the days got closer and the team and fans arrived in Las Vegas. During the first couple of Summer League games, everybody didn’t know their role, which was very obvious to Terry, who committed 13 turnovers in the first two games when operating the offense. But when he had more of an off-ball role on offense, he shined more as a cutter, finishing at the basket and during transitions. Playing off-ball well alongside DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine will be critical if he wants to find minutes off the bench this season.
Terry coming of the 2022 Draft, was known for his defensive versatility, and he made sure fans know that is his biggest strength. He could switch anytime, had good on-ball defense, rotated, and communicated. During timeouts, you can see Terry was the leader, especially in all of their games, and was a good teammate. He must improve his three-point shot, but that will come over time. Terry went 3-for-7 from that distance but isn’t scared of taking those kinds of shots.
The 18th Pick in the 2022 Draft was impressive and never filled up the stat sheet. His best performance was game four against the Hornets when he scored 20 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, 2-2 from three. Overall, he did what he was supposed to do, and now the question will be how Billy Donavon will find him minutes with their full roster.
Grade: A-
Marko Simonovic
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 15.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.8 blocks
In the first game of the Summer League, Marko Simonovic got hot early, leading the Bulls with a game-winning free throw to complete the late comeback against the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the game with a double-double of 27 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 10-for-19 from the field.
In the next two games, he would show his biggest issue of being consistent. In game 2 to the New York Knicks, he got only 1 point and seven rebounds, shooting 0-for-5 in a 32-point loss. He gave promises of being better and responded by scoring at least 15 points in the next three games. But in game three against Toronto, he had another quiet game with 7 points and three rebounds, but Chicago won. Simonovic finally got going with a 17-point and 13 rebounds performance against Hornets 2022 first-round pick, Mark Williams. Next game, he got 26 points and eight rebounds, shooting 11-for-15 from the field in the finale against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simonovic will likely spend most of the 2022-23 NBA season in the G League with the Windy City Bulls. The two biggest concerns with Simonovic are his three-point ability and paint defense. He has improved, going up to 240 pounds to hold more ground in the paint defense, but that wasn’t shown much during the Summer League. He shot 1-for-11 from three, which was his strength, but not right now. Simonovic had a solid Summer League showing with two double-doubles and became a threat with the pick-and-roll and offensive rebounds. Out of 44 total rebounds, he finished the Summer League with 17 offensive rebounds.
Grade: B+
Carlik Jones
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 11.6 points, 6.2 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 steals
One of the biggest surprises of the Bulls Vegas squad was Carlik Jones. But Jones did struggle in game one like most of his teammates except for Simonovic and Hill; he had 6 points, shooting 1-for-7, and four turnovers. After that first game, he figured out his role and did everything he got asked to do in the final four games. Even though Chicago lost by 32 points in game 2, Jones had a solid performance of 13 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the field and only one turnover. In the final three games, he took full demand of the running offense instead of sharing offensive duties with Dalen Terry. That led to two more good performances with scoring in double-digits, including in game 3 shooting 100%, 7-for-7 from the field, which resulted in 17 points. Also, he led the team with assists in the final three games.
Jones, undrafted in the 2021 Draft, will get an invitation to a training camp and will helpfully earn a two-way contract with another team. Unfortunately, Chicago used their two two-way contracts on Justin Lewis and Javon Freemon-Liberty. Jones’s size at 6’1 and three-point shooting will be some question marks, but he had a solid Summer League showing. If no one offers him an NBA contract or two-way contract, Chicago might want to consider bringing in Jones on a G League Contract this fall.
Grade: B+
Malcolm Hill
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 13.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals
Jones, undrafted in the 2021 Draft, will get an invitation to a training camp and will helpfully earn a two-way contract with another team. Jones’s size at 6’1 and three-point shooting will be some question marks, but he had a solid Summer League showing. If no one offers him an NBA contract or two-way contract, Chicago might want to consider bringing in Jones on a G League Contract this fall. Unfortunately, Chicago used their two two-way contracts on Justin Lewis and Javon Freemon-Liberty.
In his fourth Summer League appearance, he had another solid showing. He scored in double-digits every game, except when he got 5 points, shooting 2-for-10 from the field in their 32-point loss to the Knicks. His best performances were in the first game and the finale. In game 1, he helped Chicago complete the late comeback against the Dallas Mavericks and finished the game with 18 points, shot 4-for-6 from the field. In the finale, he scored 20 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-5 from three. Hill was significant in all four offensive and defensive wins when the score got close.
Hill was the most reliable shooter in the Bulls Vegas team, shooting 9-for-19 from three in 5 games. He will find a two-way contract with an NBA team if he remains a consistent wing catch-and-shoot player. But Chicago, with their team being full with 17 players, including their two two-way contracts, Hill will find a new home with another team.
Grade: B
Makur Maker
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists
After going undrafted in the 2022 draft, he proved his name should have been called on draft night. At 6’11, Maker could do everything from shooting, handling the ball, rebound, and passing. But he played a combined 18 minutes in the first two games and didn’t make his first shot until the third game against the Toronto Raptors.
In the final three games, he showed his ability to score and his versatility. The stats don’t show it, but he played well on the defensive end. Offensively, he scored in double-digits, including his 11-point performance, shooting 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from three. Important stat, Chicago was 4-0 when Maker played at least 10 minutes. Maker still has a long way to go to make the NBA and has turnover issues and rebounding. But hopefully, he will find a way to play in the G League and maybe in a Windy City Bulls uniform.
Grade: B-
Justin Lewis
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals
Justin Lewis was projected to hear his name called during the second round of the NBA draft, but that never happened. Instead, Chicago, after the draft, signed Lewis to a two-way contract for the 2022-23 season. Lewis, at 6’7, has a similar play style and build to Bulls forward Patrick Williams and superstar Kawhi Leonard. He showed at Marquette University his versatility and ability to switch and guard positions 1-4.
However, he had a quiet showing in Las Vegas. He had some excellent moments of getting two blocks on back-to-back possessions against Mark Williams, a 7-footer, Hornets 2022 First Round Pick. Lewis had some explosive dunks in transition and showed he wants to run, which Chicago needed last season when Lonzo Ball went down in January. His best performance was in the finale when he scored 11 points, shooting 5-for-10 from the field.
Lewis has the talent to build a solid two-way player in the NBA, but he will have to develop his game in the G League with the Windy City Bulls. The biggest concerns with Lewis are his three-point shot ability and moving without the ball on offense. He shot 1-for-8 from three during the 2022 Summer League. Lewis will probably not get any minutes in the NBA since the roster is full at 15 players, but hopefully, he will play significant minutes in the G League.
Grade: C
Javon-Freemon Liberty
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals
The second player the Chicago Bulls gave a two-way contract to was Javon- Freemon Liberty. Liberty grew up in Chicago and played at DePaul University, so he was excited when he got the contract. Liberty made the most of his chances and scored twice in the game opener (11 points, 5-for-9 from the field) and in the finale (11 points, 4-for-7 from the field).
He didn’t play terribly but didn’t play fantastic. Liberty made the right plays when controlling the offense off the bench. Expect Liberty to have more minutes and chances to shine with the Windy City Bulls. He will look to improve his playmaking and become a more consistent shooter.
Grade: C
Ethan Thompson
Stat Averages: Stat Averages: 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Thompson was one player I was excited to watch since he was with the Bulls in the 2021 Summer League and with the Windy City Bulls squad for the 2021-22 season. As with Makur Maker, he got more minutes in games 3-5. But he got 16 minutes and 6 points in the first two games, shooting 2-for-2 from the field. In 19 minutes of play against the Toronto Raptors, he scored 10 points, shooting 2-for-5 from the field, and did well on defense with two steals. His best performance was in the finale when he scored 12 points and shot 4-for-8.
Thompson, known as a three-point weapon, made 3 out of 10 three-point attempts and couldn’t find his swag on the Bulls in Vegas. Thompson will find a spot somewhere in the G League, but don’t be surprised if you hear his name with the Windy City Bulls next season.
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Former Bulls All-Stars Joakim Noah and Luol Deng will present the custom “Bulls Fest Champion” basketballs to the winners from each bracket in the first ever Bulls Fest 3-on-3 tournament. This event will be the first time Noah and Deng will be in the area of the United Center since Joakim Noah last season when the Bulls took on the New York Knicks.
On July 13, Noah got married to supermodel Lais Ribeiro in Brazil. Noah last played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2019-20 season. Noah earned the defensive player of the year award during the 2013-14 season and got fourth in the MVP voting that same season. He was an All-Star in 2013 and 2014. He averaged 9.4 rebounds, 9.3 points, and 3.0 assists in 572 games in a Bulls uniform.
Deng played his last NBA games with the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2018-19 season. During his Bulls career, Deng averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 637 games in a Bulls uniform. He earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in the 2011-12 season and was an All-Star in 2012 and 2013. Recently, Deng received the Order of the British Empire by the Queen Of England for his charity work.
What is Bulls Fest?
The Chicago Bulls will host the first annual Bulls fest event at the United Center on September 3rd and 4th. Bulls’ fest will include youth basketball clinics, food vendors, local artists, and entertainment. Entry is free and will be located outside the United Center on Madison Street. The most significant feature of Bulls Fest will be the 3-on-3 tournament. Divisions will range from 8-year-olds to adults 35 and over and include a wheelchair and elite bracket. Not only will you win custom “Bulls Fest Champion” basketballs, but you will also receive tickets to a regular-season Bulls game. If you are interested in signing up for the 3-on-3 tournament, click this link.
Former Texas A&M guard and current Bull Alex Caruso will be honored with his dedicated court on Saturday, July 30. Last year, the city of College Station approved the Castlegate Court to be named the “Alex Caruso Court.” Caruso grew up minutes away from the Castlegate Court in College Station and is where he gives credit where he learned his basketball skills.
(Photo by John L. Alexander/NBAE via Getty Images)
The G League, formally known as the D League, allows players to prove themselves to earn a possibly NBA contract. If you can’t get drafted into the NBA, there’s always a chance of landing on a G League team roster. Some players have become great and have good NBA careers, like 2021 NBA Champion Khris Middleton and 2019 NBA Champion Pascal Siakam. There have not been many former Windy City Bulls players to have a great NBA career. But, these two guys on this list made significant contributions during the 2022 NBA Postseason for their teams.
Spencer Dinwiddie
Career Windy City Bulls stats: 19.4 points, 8.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 steals
Before he became well known, he was with the Detroit Pistons. During his rookie season, he made one NBA start but received two assignments to the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons’ G-League affiliate. After his rookie season, he appeared in 12 games with the Pistons and spent most of his sophomore season with the Grand Rapids Drive. Dinwiddle would average 14.1 points and 5.8 assists in 20 games with the Drive.
On June 17th, 2016, Dinwiddie was traded to the Chicago Bulls for Cameron Bairstow. A couple of weeks later, he got waived and re-signed on July 28th, but waived again until five preseason appearances with the Chicago Bulls. He spent nine games with the Windy City Bulls and played well, averaging 37.4 minutes. Windy City had a 5-4 record with Dinwiddie in the lineup. But he didn’t finish the season with the Windy City Bulls.
After a rough start to Dinwiddie’s NBA career, he finally got his career going with the Brooklyn Nets. Dinwiddie spent five seasons in Brooklyn. On April 8, 2017, in a 107–106 win over the Chicago Bulls, Dinwiddie made four free throws in the final 13.6 seconds and finished with 19 points. Every season, he would improve his points average. Dinwiddie was a part of the Russell Westbrook trade and got sent to the Washington Wizards. After 44 games in a Wizards uniform, he got traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 14.2 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 18 games during the 2022 Postseason and helped Dallas make the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2011. Dallas would lose in five games to the 2022 NBA Champions, Golden State Warriors.
Career Windy City Bulls stats: 18.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.8 steals
Max Strus played at Depaul University, located in Chicago, for the final two years of his college basketball career. Strus went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft and signed with the Boston Celtics. Strus and Javonte Green fought for the final roster spot on the Celtics during the preseason. But before the 2019 season, Strus got cut.
After getting cut, he got his chance with the Windy City Bulls for 13 games and started in 12. Strus shot 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from the three. When Strus played, Windy City had a 7-6 record. His best G League performance came on December 17th against the College Park Skyhawks when he had 31 points and 13 rebounds, shot 11-for-24 from the field, and 4-for-13 from three.
After 13 games with the Windy City Bulls, he signed a training camp contract with the Miami Heat. A couple of weeks later, his contract became a two-way contract. On August 6th, five days after signing with the Heat Summer League, he signed a two-year contract worth $3.5 million to remain in Miami. Strus became well known during the 2022 Postseason. In 18 games during the 2022 postseason, Strus averaged 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He had two games of at least 20 points and got two double-doubles. The Miami Heat lost in the Eastern Conference to the Boston Celtics.
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