NEWSLETTER
Shoutout to my dad. AKA, The G(D)OAT.
Being born in the 90s, my adolescent brain was not smart enough to wrangle up all the historic newspapers. But the (not-so)old man made sure to get his hands on all the best papers he could, and he handed those over to me as my parents prepare to move out of the childhood home.
I now officially have each original Chicago Tribune front page from each Bulls championship. For a journalism geek like me, that’s as good as it gets.
• Is it safe to say Nikola Vucevic has heard about the latest rumors?
Wait how do they know what I’m thinking??? https://t.co/BHy8ucXDpN
— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) June 11, 2022
• When the big man pressed “tweet” on Saturday afternoon, I’m not sure if he knew what he was doing. Deprived Bulls fans immediately spun into a frenzy, questioning whether or not his words were meant as a mere joke or were related to a greater meaning. Was Vucevic saying we don’t actually know what he’s thinking; thus, suggesting he might want the opposite of a future with the Bulls? I can see how his message might be interpreted that way, but I presume that’s looking far deeper into things than he intended. Instead, I believe Vucevic’s comment was nothing more than a lighthearted jab at the headline.
• I’m not going to sit here and pretend I know Vucevic (but if he ever wants to build Legos while watching Star Wars, I’m free). I’ve never met the guy, nor do I have any inside knowledge of his current perception of the team. However, he’s known to have a pretty sarcastic and dry sense of humor (which I think is reflected in this tweet), and he’s also expressed nothing but contentment during his time in Chicago. So, yes, I’m sure he’s rolled his eyes at some of these latest rumors, especially the Gobert one that might hold lesser weight than people realize.
• Speaking of which, it appears Gobert has also kept tabs on the latest gossip:
https://twitter.com/wontgottlieb/status/1535969596880175104?s=20&t=gisY_f3Q5Nwleak-P1Ff9A
• We can’t ever rule anything out in today’s almost-annoyingly unpredictable NBA, but I think this brief exchange between the two All-Star centers implies that neither believes a swap is imminent. With that said, the chance of the Jazz trading Gobert this offseason still feels pretty darn high, in my opinion.
• Ayo Dosunmu’s rookie campaign was arguably the most pleasant surprise of the 2021-22 Bulls season. Sure, DeMar DeRozan’s All-NBA performance sits right near the top of the list, but that would have been a far more believable outcome back in October of 2021. As for watching the 38th overall pick appear in 77 games (starting 40) in his hometown team’s first winning season since 2017, that’s the kind of story that plays out in a corny Disney sports film. And his dagger poster dunk would have surely been the epic slow-motion climax of the film:
One of the best moments of the season hands down.
(📸 @chicagobulls) pic.twitter.com/0cJIHY8hBI
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) June 12, 2022
• Dosunmu’s season has somehow only gotten more impressive in hindsight. While it’s clear that he should have been a first-round talent all along, we so rarely see a rookie step into the big leagues and immediately play winning basketball. Whether it be his comfortably above-average on-ball defense or his high-IQ decision-making in the absence of Lonzo Ball, Dosunmu played the kind of game we often see out of an eight-year vet. And the fact that this is where he’s started, it’s impossible not to rethink how high his ceiling might be.
• Indeed, Dosunmu’s immediate contributions might allow Karnisovas to re-evaluate how he handles the backcourt moving forward. Not only could Dosunmu be viewed as a viable backup option to Lonzo Ball, but he could make the services of Coby White somewhat dispensable if his catch-and-shoot ability continues to improve. Not to mention, Dosunmu’s length and defensive instincts make him a far more versatile option off the bench. So if Karnisovas gets some calls on White this summer, he’ll likely be far more prone to answer them knowing Dosunmu is still under contract.
• The start of a decade-long dominance:
https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1535970774837825539?s=20&t=gisY_f3Q5Nwleak-P1Ff9A
• Would have been better if Jordan scored.
These are just toys 🤯
(via @plasticaction_) pic.twitter.com/ZDP6QFDOgd
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 12, 2022
• We talkin’ about practice!? Not a game!?
#DaBears started last week by getting stripped of a day of OTA practices as punishment from the NFL.
But it mustn't have been *THAT* bad because neither Matt Eberflus nor the organization was fined for it. https://t.co/mKCXH0vjt7 pic.twitter.com/fUVL1zJr8D
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) June 12, 2022
• Ugh.
We’re sorry, #Blackhawks fans. We Need to Prepare for Alex DeBrincat's Departure https://t.co/7lRxXQ0wb7
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) June 11, 2022
