Veteran big man Thaddeus Young will not suit up for the Chicago Bulls first preseason game against the Houston Rockets Friday night at the United Center.
According to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson, Young has been ruled out due to a “lower left leg infection.”
Thad Young is listed as out vs. Rockets on injury report. Lower left leg infection.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 11, 2020
What exactly does that mean? Good question. We’ll have to wait and see if we learn more.
Young’s absence does come as a surprise, especially when we consider the fact that he was (1) listed as a probable starter just last night (that did change this morning, however, so maybe this is why) and (2) spoke with reporters earlier on Friday with no mention of missing the contest. Johnson does hint that this could be because reporters failed to as Young of his status, but I’m willing to forgive the local media especially since all signs pointed to Young fully practicing with the team this week.
Young didn’t mention issue when talking to reporters via Zoom following shootaround. And we didn’t ask. (Preseason for us, too, although as of yesterday, team said everybody but Temple and Valentine practiced.) Will ask Donovan for update pregame. https://t.co/2FqvrgQOb9
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 11, 2020
I also have to wonder if Young’s unavailability tonight is more of an abundance of caution sort of thing. Perhaps the big man could play on any normal night, but since this is a preseason matchup and his 14th year in the league, the team decided to let him sit this one out. After all, in his conversation with reporters on Friday, he didn’t sound the happiest about preseason action.
Is there a heightened sense of excitement for #Bulls' preseason opener since you haven't played in 9 months?
That would be a resounding no from veteran Thad Young:
“For the guys who have played, I don’t think it’s that much excitement for a preseason game."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) December 11, 2020
Typical vet.
If Young nor anyone else has mentioned any injury trouble for Young to this point, I have to imagine we aren’t dealing with anything too serious. Although, only time will tell whether or not that’s true.
For now, we can look forward to more playing time for some other faces in tonight’s matchup against the Rockets. We all already expected Patrick Williams to get a fair amount of playing time, but with Young, Denzel Valentine (hamstring), and Garrett Temple (COVID-19) now all out, the rookie could get even more.