The Best Coaches In The History Of Chicago Bulls

Edward Anderson on May 24, 2023

Looking forward to the NBA playoffs tonight and seeing what the coaches prepared. Then this article is for you. Becoming an NBA coach is no easy feat. It requires hard work, dedication, and a unique set of skills that can only be cultivated over time. From having strong basketball knowledge to being able to motivate and lead a team. There are many important qualities that NBA coaches must have.

The first step for aspiring NBA coaches is to get experience in the field. This could include playing college or professional basketball. It can be coaching at the high school or college level, or working as an assistant or scout for an NBA team. All these experiences will help build the necessary skills needed to become an NBA coach. Besides gaining experience in the field, aspiring coaches need to stay up-to-date. This is on both the latest trends and strategies in basketball. They must study game film, attend coaching clinics and conventions, and read books on coaching strategies and tactics. It’s also vital for them to have a thorough understanding of analytics. This is so they can use data when making decisions about their teams.

Finally, successful coaches need great communication skills. They must also have good leadership abilities so they can manage their team on and off the court. They must also be able to smell the talent.

Today, we are going to take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about the best coaches in the history of the Chicago Bulls.

Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau is US professional basketball coach. He was also a former basketball player. Currently, he in charge of the New York Knicks of the NBA. Thibodeau began his illustrious coaching life back in 1981. Salem State was his home back then. After that endeavor, he went to Minnesota Timberwolves in 1989 and he was there for two seasons.

Before becoming the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, Thibodeau was an assistant coach to different teams. He was an assistant coach for San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 7ers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, and Boston Celtics. He was rather loved there in Chicago Bulls.

Especially because those were the years when people saw the possibility of Chicago Bulls living through the Renaissance. The main man was Derrick Rose. But his injuries were one of the main things why the Bulls did not relieve those glory days of the 90s. But, Tom was successful there and he is considered one of the best coaches.

Dick Motta

Dick Motta was one of the pillars of the Chicago Bulls. He succeeded the legendary Johnny Red Kerr. He spend eight at the club and he took those magnificent players to playoffs six times. That was the first golden era of the Chicago Bulls. Sure, they did not win an NBA championship, but the winning mentality was there. People in Chicago loved seeing those people play basketball.

Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson is a coach who completed basketball. He started playing in the competition called Continental Basketball Association (CBA). He wore the shirt of the Albany Patroons and won two titles.

After that, he moved to the NBA and coached the Chicago Bulls from 1989-1998. You may be familiar with the fact that he won six championships with them. He then went on to coach the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999-2004 and again from 2005-2011, winning five more championships. To put it simply, Jackson has won 11 NBA Championships as a head coach. No one else in the sport has done that.

His success has earned him many awards and honors. It included being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007. He also received two honorary doctorates for his contributions to basketball. He is the best and most beloved coach in the history of the Chicago Bulls.

Chicago Bulls fall short after building a huge lead

Leah Cooper on February 21, 2023

Chicago Bulls – In the world of sports, it isn’t uncommon for a team or player to take the lead before getting overtaken and losing.

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls were on their way to a victory before they threw away their shot, losing to the Indiana Pacers.

Lost composure

For the fifth straight game, the Chicago Bulls lost composure, wasting their 24-point lead in a game that ended in a 117-113 loss to the Pacers.

Coach Billy Donovan cited lost composure as the reason the Bulls lost a game that should’ve earned them a victory.

The team managed to overcome their long-distance shooting slump, hitting fifteen 3-pointers.

Zach LaVine put up a fantastic display, finishing the game with 35 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists that night, even without DeMar DeRozan.

However, it wasn’t enough to give the Bulls a win.

When asked about the Chicago Bulls’ lack of composure in the fourth quarter, Donovan replied: “That was it.”

“Just being settled, being able to make the right passes, the right plays, really on both ends of the floor,” he added.

“I thought there were a lot of things we did where giving up two points turns into, like, eight.”

“But I do think the poise and the composure and just being able to pass it where it needs to go, to screen to catch.”

“This has happened to a lot of us,” the Bulls coach continued.

“We compete pretty hard but the game gets ratchet up physically, mentally, emotionally. And you have to be able to come down on both ends and be detailed and focused and execute.”

“You have to talk and communicate on defense. And then you have to be able to get into offense and generate as good of shots as you can.”

A string of bad luck

The Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers game ties for the second-largest blown lead in an NBA season.

It is also the fifth time the Chicago Bulls lost over a 16-point lead in the season.

The first game they blew their lead happened in the same Gainbridge Fieldhouse over three weeks ago when the Bulls threw away a 21-point lead.

During that period, the Bulls also dropped a 19-point lead in a home game against the Los Angeles Clippers and a 16-point lead to the Washington Wizards in an away game.

“I don’t want to use the word trend,” said Donovan.

“But what I would say is it’s something this group has to overcome. It’s an obstacle in front of us.”

The Pacers game

The Chicago Bulls had a strong start in their loss.

Before the end of the first quarter, they created a 24-point lead after Coby White shot one of his five 3-pointers that night.

So far this season, White has hit a season-high 25 points.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, only three teams have bounced back from a larger first-quarter deficit since the shot clock started in 1954-1955.

No other team has been able to manage a similar feat since 2008.

“The intensity level continues to go up, and we’ve gotta be able to play all the way through,” said the Bulls coach.

“It’s the poise, the composure, understanding time and score.”

Although they built a solid lead, the Chicago Bulls surrendered 75 points in the second half of the game.

“A lot of 3s they made in the second half, you gotta understand the personnel,” Donovan explained.

“Not to show any disrespect to anybody on their team, but you don’t want to be leaving Buddy Hield to rotate to somebody that’s not Buddy Hield.”

“Those things we have to, in the moment, be able to make better decisions and quicker decisions.”

Hield later shot six of the Indiana Pacers’ eighteen 3-point shots.

Postgame sentiments

Following the loss, Billy Donovan believes the Chicago Bulls should have helped Nikola Vucevic, who was frequently matched against a towering Aaron Nesmith.

However, Donovan also acknowledged he was partly to blame.

“I gotta try to help them more,” said Donovan. “You try to talk about things, show things (on film).”

“We’re all in it together. And when we’re coming down the stretch, we have to be able to execute.”

Meanwhile, LaVine fielded similar questions as the Chicago Bulls suffered another loss to their season.

“We talk about it. We’ve been here before,” said LaVine.

“Try to sustain it. Change the momentum a little bit. We gave ourselves a chance but a little too short.”

…

Mac McClung the slam dunk king of 2023

Claire Peterson on February 21, 2023

Mac McClung – The NBA has produced a number of legends who have achieved glory both domestically and abroad.

Apart from events like the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup, the Dunk Contest is one of the biggest stages where professional basketball players can exhibit their personal strengths and flair.

Even if the competition has dwindled lately, the most recent contest seems to have improved the Dunk Contest’s standing.

On the court, there were many great players, but Mac McClung stood out and won praise for renewing the contest.

The news

Trey Murphy III and Damian Lillard were two of the competitors Mac McClung faced off against in the Dunk Contest.

The final game was decided on Saturday by an NBA All-Star, but the 6-foot-2 Philadelphia guard persisted to get it there.

In the finals, he defeated Trey Murphy III of New Orleans.

McClung’s victory was an adrenaline rush, but the anticipation sparked the game, bringing life to the NBA’s premier event after years of dormancy.

The road to becoming an overnight sensation

No one predicted Mac McClung would take home the gold.

McClung was a surprise participant who hadn’t even been on the NBA roster when he accepted the invitation in January.

In addition, he didn’t sign a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers until recently.

He played in a game for the Chicago Bulls and a game for the Los Angeles Lakers the season before that.

Mac McClung still has to improve his all-around game, but he has undeniably mastered dunking.

McClung approached the court with a point to make and accomplished so in style.

Mac McClung demonstrated his whole skill set during the Dunk Contest.

Athleticism
Creativity
Style
Ability to deal with pressure

The contest

Overcoming two opponents, the new 76ers addition touched the ball on the backboard before slamming it in.

Even more amazing is the fact that Mac McClung was successful on his first try.

Everyone was now interested in what the guest could do.

While some could have just dismissed the first attempt as a fluke, McClung demonstrated that he was the real deal.

The execution of the first dunk was faultless, while that of the second was virtually immaculate.

Three of the four dunks received perfect 50 ratings from the judges.

The lone imperfect score was 49.8.

McClung’s third perfect score gave him the victory.

Unquestionably, the 540-degree dunk that required him to complete a full circle in the air assisted him in attracting attention.

Even as the judges’ scores were raised, it was clear to everyone that Mac McClung had won the 2023 Dunk Contest.

“It’s over,” he said.

Mac McClung said after the match that he was determined to defend his championship at All-Star Saturday in Indianapolis the next year.

“If you guys have me, I’ll be back,” said the champion.

Reception

Mac McClung’s practically perfect performance won over the audience, the media, and several former and present NBA stars.

“Man was a viral HOH high school dunk phenom, still working his way to the League, but lemme go get that dunk contest trophy right quick and bring it back to life!!! Unreal,” wrote Stephen Curry.

On Twitter, Tyson Chandler commended Mac McClung for winning the most recent competition and referred to it as “dope.”

Yet the rookie was acclaimed by Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal as the NBA Slam Dunk Contest’s savior.

They both played for the Los Angeles Lakers, have won MVP awards in the past, are in the Hall of Fame, and agree that McClung’s goal saved the game.

O’Neal was there at the Vivint Smart Home arena and saw McClung perform.

When asked how he felt, the legendary Lakers player responded honestly, “He saved the dunk contest.”

At the same time, Johnson expressed his views on Twitter, writing:

“Mac McClung has personally saved the slam dunk contest with his performance tonight!! He put on a show!”

Now that Mac McClung’s name has finally become recognized, many will be expecting even more from him, and there is no reason to question his success.

…

Thomas Bryant to make his way to the Nuggets

Nicholas Alexander on February 13, 2023

Thomas Bryant – When the NBA trade deadline finally arrived, the Los Angeles Lakers made a startling transaction that broke the hearts of their supporters.

Thomas Bryant, one of the Lakers’ top players this season, was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Davon Reeds and second-round picks.

Online debate was sparked by the transfer since many people were disappointed to see Bryant go.

The news

Sportswriter Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news that the Los Angeles Lakers will acquire three second-round picks as part of the deal.

The NBA giants combined the deal with several others that occurred across the league, like Orlando’s purchase of Patrick Beverley.

Instead, the Net will receive two second-round picks from the Net’s neighbors, the Clippers.

Davon Reed

As Davon Reed begins his fourth NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers will be his fourth squad.

The shooting guard Reed doesn’t play much on the court.

He has only played in 114 games in his career, 35 of them with the Denver Nuggets.

In comparison to his career 38.4% 3-point percentage, Davon Reed is shooting 36.4% this year.

Thomas Byrant

After Anthony Davis’ injury, Thomas Bryant has shocked everyone this season by averaging 12.1 points per game.

Bryant has served as the Lakers’ a source of optimism throughout the current NBA season.

He has been gradually returning to his pre-injury form, giving the team the lift they have occasionally needed.

Decision to trade

Despite being a force on offense for the Lakers, Thomas Bryant’s defensive shortcomings have occasionally lost the team games.

In this situation, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and the Lakers seem to have another reason for the decision.

The Lakers most certainly couldn’t afford to pay Bryant what he may make on the open market since he is entitled for a large contract increase in the off-season.

Instead, the Lakers decided to capitalize on Thomas Bryan’s great season thus far.

By moving him to a more advantageous position in the procedure, they are assisting him.

Given how frequently they have been used in trades this season, the Lakers are currently replenishing their draft assets.

What next?

Wenyen Gabriel will be given a spot in the squad as a result of Thomas Bryant’s departure, according to Dan Woike and Adrian Wojnarowski.

After Anthony Davis’ recovery, Gabriel had been dropped from the starting lineup.

Only three of the Lakers’ previous seven games have seen him so far, and one of those three outings was for only a few “garbage time” minutes.

In addition, the acquisition of Jarred Vanderbilt rendered Thomas Bryant unnecessary.

Vanderbilt was equally adept at rebounding as Bryant and was versatile enough to play either the four or the five.

With alternative options to replace him on the roster, the Lakers essentially cashed in on Thomas Bryant’s great individual season with this trade.

There is room for more participants in the group.

In the end, the Los Angeles Lakers made money by signing Thomas Bryant to a brief contract and then dealing him for two second-round picks.

The Lakers may use their additional draft picks, which are available now that the trade deadline has gone, to find more backup on the market.

Additionally, one of the roster spots is open.

…

Nets are thriving with their signings

Jason Robinson on January 30, 2023

…

Nets: Without Kevin Durant, the Brooklyn Nets dropped their next four matches while going through 11 games without Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.

They are 29-17 in the Eastern Conference standings and one game behind the second-place Philadelphia 76ers.

On January 9, the Nets had the second-best record in the NBA until they announced that Durant had hurt his MCL.

After 18 victories in 20 games, they were only one game behind the league-leading Boston Celtics thanks to their offense and solid defense.

If the Nets had all of their players, they could win the championship with ease.

Durant, however, is not the cause of their current predicament.

Instead, they should be grateful for a plan that came to fruition.

Then

In the first round of the playoffs in May 2022, the Celtics beat the Nets in four exhilarating games.

The team president, Sean Marks, said they needed to bolster their squad with more strength, flexibility, and intellect.

He underlined the importance of having players that wanted to make a difference with the team.

Kevin Durant requested a trade prior to signing with the Brooklyn Nets because they lack adequate resources at their disposal.

But given that the regular season is now halfway through, it is clear that their summer purchases were a series of bargains.

The 23-year-old player they re-signed showed remarkable development.

The glue player who cost them a first-round pick later in the draft is settling in..

The Nets’ versatile forward, who they snatched, is now the NBA’s top three-point shooter.

The gunslinger is getting back into the form he was in just before his surgeries.

Claxton

Nic Claxton is making the progress that many envisioned last year because of his increased strength as the anchor of the Net.

As a result, he is a candidate for the All-Defensive team.

Claxton has been consistently neutralizing threats in addition to contesting more shots and fouling less.

“The more reps that I’ve gotten in the NBA, just guarding guys, picking up on tendencies, knowing where I need to be,” said Claxton of his refinement.

“It’s really taken my game to a different level on the defensive end.”

“I’m more confident,” he continued. “I’m not worried so much about just messing out there, so I’m just able to try more things and be more creative.”

“And I just have a better feel for the game, just with the experience that I’ve gotten.”

O’Neale

The Nets signed Royce O’Neale because they were in dire need of a shooter who could also guard wings.

He was lauded for being a reliable 3-and-D player.

But his proclivity for passing the ball, attacking close-outs, and supremacy in pick-and-rolls and dribble-handoffs surprised them..

“It felt good,” said O’Neale. “I mean, I’ve always kind of been able to play with the ball more.”

“Just reading different situations, and then becoming more comfortable with it, confident.”

When he initially joined the team, he intended to perform all tasks the Nets demanded of him, including ball handling.

Nic Claxton was quite kind in his praise of his teammate.

“He just comes in every day, just works, plays his role, doesn’t have a huge ego,” said Claxton.

“He just wants to come out and play basketball at a high level and win basketball games.”

“It’s always good to have glue guys like that on the roster who can bring that every single night. And he plays extremely hard defensively, can knock down shots.”

O’Neale believes he can do any job in any setting, notwithstanding the fact that any club could employ him.

“As long as I get to play basketball, I’m cool.”

Watanabe

The signing of Yuta Watanabe caught everyone off guard.

When he was a player with the Toronto Raptors, he struggled with insecurity and always put pressure on himself to do more.

Watanabe had a leg injury while working out with the Raptors in the preseason, and while making recovery, his playing time was restricted.

However, Brooklyn experienced a positive change.

“At this point, it’s a mental game. No matter how bad or how good I shoot before the game or in practice or whatever, I’m always in the present,” he said.

“I always focus on the shot right in front of me. I think that’s the biggest difference between in Toronto and here.”

“Having an experience like that in Toronto is really helping me right now.”

Since joining the Nets, Yuta Watanabe has attempted 84 shots altogether, giving him a shooting percentage of 59.2% on open three-pointers.

“I was kind of surprised how much I’ve changed. Nothing really changed, but like how I’m shooting now. This didn’t happen overnight or like over a day,” said Watanabe.

“This is a process of going to the gym every day, getting shots up every day, and it’s a process of years.”

When he hit 17 points in 21 minutes during the December contest in Toronto, his confidence reached an all-time high.

“Every time I catch the ball, I feel like my shots are going in.”

Warren

TJ Warren experienced a nightmare after his 2020 season.

Due to his history of several surgeries and stress fractures, he decided to sign a one-year, veteran-minimum contract with the Nets.

Prior to his injury, Warren was a well-known shooter, but since joining the Nets, he has grown into a reliable backup.

Despite not being in the same shape as in the past, TJ Warren has shown to be a crucial element of the attack.

“He’s going to be a big help for us,” said O’Neale. “As he already is.”

“I think just him being confident on both ends, knowing what he’s capable of doing, it’s going to help us in the long run.”

“Our depth that we got, he’s a big part of it.”

Luka Doncic hits triple-double in Mavericks comeback win

Jason Robinson on January 2, 2023

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Luka Doncic: The point guard for the Dallas Mavericks topped himself on Tuesday night to lead his team to a comeback win against the New York Knicks.

The game

Luka Doncic’s performance was essential to the Mavericks’ campaign this season.

He turned around a nine-point deficit in the final 26.8 seconds of regulation time, severely cutting the New York Knicks’ lead.

Doncic stepped up toward the end of the game, tying the score before completing their win.

The Mavericks’ point guard, like any other player, upped his tempo when the side needed him the most.

The tie

Luka Doncic stood for the free throw with 4.2 seconds remaining.

The Mavericks and Knicks were separated by three points.

Doncic purposely missed his second shot in the hopes that a second Maverick would get the rebound.

The ball eventually ended up in Doncic’s hands after it bounced off the ring and slipped off the Knicks.

He quickly moved for a close-range jump shot.

When the shot went in, he didn’t realize the cheers were coming from the Mavericks fans until he stood up after falling.

While the rest of the team seemed eager to celebrate and Luka Doncic was visibly ecstatic, everyone else decided to stay on defense as the clock ran.

Finishing the game

As the game approached overtime, the Dallas Mavericks maintained their lead.

The Knicks were only able to make two free throws in the opening four minutes as the Mavericks forced overtime.

The Mavericks held off the Knicks with a five-point victory to complete the upset.

Luka Doncic scored seven of the Mavericks’ eleven points in overtime, giving him 60 points overall.

“I’m tired as hell,” said Doncic after the win. “I need a recovery beer.”

Records broken

Luka Doncic had a tremendous game against the Knicks and put up some impressive stats.

The point guard not only scored a career-high 60 points, but added 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

Doncic’s efforts have led to him becoming the youngest player in NBA history to ever register a triple-double of 60 points.

The Mavericks player set a new benchmark and a team scoring record.

Doncic’s performance

The remarkable 21-year career of Dirk Nowitzki was previously overseen by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

He was watching the Knicks game, where the next generation carried on Nowitzki’s legacy.

“We are watching greatness @luka7doncic,” he tweeted. “I’ve never seen anything like that ever.”

Luka Doncic became the second player in NBA history to record a triple-double of 60 points.

James Harden, who achieved a comparable feat with the Houston Rockets in 2018, established the record for the first 60-point, 10-rebound, 11-assist game.

In the past, only Wilt Chamberlain (who did it twice) and Elgin Baylor with a 20-board performance, along with six other players, were able to accomplish the rare 50-point triple-double.

But the icing on the cake goes beyond Doncic’s individual achievements.

NBA teams had a record of 0-13,884 during the previous 20 seasons when behind by more than nine points with 35 seconds or less left on the clock.

Reaction

The Mavericks’ previous record of 53 points (established by Dirk Nowitzki in 2004) was surpassed by Luka Doncic’s 60-point triple-double, which also set a new milestone for the team.

NBA players from the present and the past complimented the point guard on Twitter.

“It’ll be another statue in Dallas,” said Kevin Garnett. “Luka is like that!”

Chris Wood wrote, “@luka7doncic Im sending u a GOAT to yo farm my boy..60..great team W #MFFL.”

Theo Pinson lauded Doncic as one of the NBA’s top players this season in a tweet, writing:

“I don’t want to hear not 1 time that is AT LEAST top 3 in the MVP race all year!!!”

Paul Pierce offered his perspective by saying: “Luke is the best offensive player in the league I said offensive think about it.”

References:

Luka Doncic’s historic 60-point triple-double lifts Mavericks past Knicks in wild comeback

Mavericks star Luka Doncic posts historic triple-double in historic comeback

NBA players react to Luka Doncic’s historic 60-point triple-double

The NBA gets a toy revamp with Starting Lineup, the toys now come with an NFT card

Nicholas Alexander on September 26, 2022

The NBA is an organization that’s already familiar with the NFT space and will once again receive a significant boost with toys in the early lineup toy line.

Hasbro is relaunching the sports toy line, Starting Lineup, with optimizations for the insertion of NFT cards.

The toy line is restarting with the biggest names in the NBA, including stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

Starting Lineup

The sports toy line exploded in the 1980s when Hasbro offered toy versions of athletes in various sports competitions.

More than two decades after its last mass production, the company is now reviving the brand with new and expensive versions that come with NFT trading cards.

Toy giant Hasbro recently opened pre-orders for the first of the new NBA Starting Lineup collection.

Featured athletes include two of the biggest stars (LeBron James and Stephen Curry), as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo and others.

The Hasbro toy

Hasbro Starting Rig toys have six-inch (15 cm) figures that are much more poseable than the original toys.

However, they also come with a high price tag of $50.

The purchase price includes a toy, a stand, and a pack of NFT cards created by Panini.

NFT

Panini’s NFT card brand has its own private blockchain network.

Panini has previously released digital NFT cards based on the NBA, NFL, and Ultimate Fighting Championship, among others.

Each NFT trading card associated with the toy on the grid has different levels of rarity.

Although a buyer can get a standard NFT card, it is also possible for them to have a rarer red, green, or blue edition with slightly different graphics.

Each player has a gold NFT limited to one card of each color. Whether the shortage of NFTs in Panini’s secondary market leads to higher resale prices remains to be seen.

With the success and demand for rare NBA TopShot NFTs in the past, the NFT chase could be a compelling aspect of the new promise of value.

The toy was announced earlier this year in collaboration with toy giant Fanatics.

Reference:

Remember Starting Lineup NBA action figures? They’re back — with NFTs

NBA report: Lonzo Ball’s knee issue remains a thorn in the Bulls side

Claire Peterson on September 5, 2022

According to reports, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball may miss training camp as he remains a doubt for the start of the regular season.

Ball is currently dealing with lingering pain after his left meniscus surgery, according to Ramon Shelburne and Jamal Collier of ESPN.

The surgery

Lonzo Ball’s surgery took place in January, repairing his injury.

Sources reported that Ball’s knee remains structurally intact, but he continued to experience lingering pain while he rehabbed on the West coast.

Initially, the Bulls guard had a six-to eight-week timeframe to recover, but Ball’s knee didn’t recover in time for him to return to the team for the home stretch of the season.

Earlier reports

In mid-July, NBC Sports Chicago made a similar report, saying Ball’s rehabilitation efforts involved starts and stops.

Ball reportedly experienced discomfort while trying to increase his workload.

The report coincided with the Bulls’ statement wherein vice president Artūras Karnišovas spoke on an NBA TV broadcast of a summer league game.

He said that Ball is “getting better — probably not at the speed that we would like. But he’s getting better.”

Positive sentiments

NBC Sports Chicago shared two positive updates during the tapings of the Bulls Talk Podcast where they discussed Lonzo Ball.

The Bulls have faith in Ball, and it was apparent when Karnišovas aggressively pursued him in the 2021 offseason.

The team ended up forfeiting a second-round pick after the NBA ruled it held premature discussions with a representative ahead of the execution of his sign-and-trade agreement.

Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball’s recovery may be a major blow to the upcoming season as the management hopes for improved health and core continuity to revive the Eastern Conference-leading attack.

The Bulls have worked with Ball’s specialists this offseason and remain confident that Ball will continue to progress.

His knee also underwent a procedure in 2018 when the guard played for the Lakers, and it remains structurally sound.

Instead, it is the bone bruise that predates the January meniscus tear that has riddled Ball’s rehabilitation.

Chicago Bulls

Lonzo Ball was signed to the Bulls for four seasons.

The Bulls added depth at the point guard position when they signed veteran Goran Dragić in free agency.

They also kept Coby White despite fielding trade offers that didn’t move the needle for management.

Meanwhile, Caruso and Ayo Dosunmu will play prominent roles in the backcourt rotation.

If Ball remains sidelined, rookie Dalen Terry could find his opening to start in his place.

Reference:

Bulls’ Lonzo Ball doubtful for start of NBA season, per report

Bulls taking long view regarding Lonzo Ball’s lingering knee issue

Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls leadership style a big influence on Stephen Curry

Edward Anderson on September 5, 2022

The past decade has seen Stephen Curry become one of the greatest players in the NBA, and his meteoric rise can be attributed to Michael Jordan.

The Last Dance

Like many, Stephen Curry looked up to Michael Jordan, particularly his time with the Chicago Bulls, which was documented in the Netflix series, “The Last Dance.”

The Warriors star was recently asked about his leadership style, to which he brought up Michael Jordan.

“[Jordan] never asked anybody on his team or in the organization to do anything that he wouldn’t do himself,” said Curry.

“Set the bar for what work ethic was and that grind. He tried to set the pace with his actions.”

“I’ve always carried that with me as the standard for what I expect from my teammates and people, that I lived up to that as well and I set the pace there.”

Michael Jordan

While the two are different, Curry and Jordan have showcased that they are fierce competitors in the game, and Curry imitating the Bulls’ leadership style fits in.

Michael Jordan played an influential role in ushering the Chicago Bulls dynasty during the 1990s.

He was not only competitive, but also constantly pushing his teammates to go the extra mile.

Jordan’s ethics were best seen on the court as he consistently put up incredible numbers, leading the bulls to six championships.

The Bulls’ star earned him the moniker of the GOAT, a similar title given to the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

Stephen Curry

The Warriors star began receiving similar praises, exhibiting similar traits to Jordan, James, and Bryant.

He was seen working on his game in private runs.

Fellow Warriors Kevon Looney revealed that Curry is already pushing the team to focus on the upcoming season with the goal of maintaining their NBA Championship title.

While Curry has been criticized for his weaknesses, he managed to turn things around and transform them into strengths.

One of the criticisms directed at the Warriors star was his defensive contribution.

By 2016, Stephen Curry was leading the league with 2.1 steals per game, and he continues to improve his defense each season.

The “best player” debate

Like most players, Stephen Curry has been the subject of debate for the past couple of years.

Shaquille O’Neal is among those who claim that the Warriors player is the “best player in the NBA,” citing his drive to elevate his game each season.

Meanwhile, others wave him off.

However, the fact that Stephen Curry “just wins” should warrant him a place on the short list of the best players in the world.

Reference:

Steph uses great MJ quote as foundation for leadership style.

Kevin Durant and Brooklyn Nets agree to continue working together

Jason Robinson on August 29, 2022

Kevin Durant has been one of the biggest topics on the NBA transfer news for some time, but now it seems that he’s locked down to remain with the Brooklyn Nets.

On Tuesday, Nets general manager Sean Marks revealed that Durant will be staying with the franchise.

The report

Two months ago, Kevin Durant reportedly requested a trade from the Nets, but Marks announced that the All-Star forward would be staying put on social media.

“Steve Nash and I, together with Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai, met with Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles yesterday,” revealed Marks.

“We have agreed to move forward with our partnership.”

“We are focusing on basketball, with one collective goal in mind: build a lasting franchise to bring a championship to Brooklyn.”

What it means

The announcement puts out the fire during the 2022 offseason for the Nets which began with misgivings surrounding Kyrie Irving’s future with the Nets.

The situation escalated into a full-blown meltdown when Kevin Durant officially requested a trade despite four years remaining on his contract.

It remains to be seen if the announcement marks the end of Durant’s beef with the Nets, but it appears the two have reached an agreement on their immediate futures together.

Irving and Durant

According to The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets told teams of their plan to retain Irving for the season.

However, they also reported the Memphis Grizzlies are in trade discussions for Durant this week.

With the recent announcement, it seems the Brooklyn Nets will be bringing back the two anchors into their 2022 squad.

They also expect a fully-healthy Ben Simmons to return to the court too.

References:

Kevin Durant staying put in Brooklyn after meeting with Nets top brass

Kevin Durant seemingly ends trade request after he and Nets announce they will ‘move forward with our partnership’