NEWSLETTER
I’ve never bought a lottery ticket (other than one scratch-off for fun on my 18th birthday), so it came as no surprise that the significant other and I looked like a bunch of rookies at the grocery store yesterday.
After we inserted our two bucks into the machine, we simply couldn’t find the ticket. We felt around and stood there like idiots for about 4 minutes debating whether or not to just walk away. Fortunately, however, I bent down far enough to see the odd area of the machine where the ticket dispences, and we’re now set to be disappointed like every other dummy when the numbers are drawn later tonight!
Can you imagine if I left the ticket there, though!? I bet you some baby would have stumbled upon it, the numbers would have hit, and it would’ve been the start of a late-90s family-friendly film called Baby Billionaire.
Anyway, if this intro served as your reminder to go buy a ticket, I’ll accept $2 million for reminding you when you win.
- If you’re craving more Marko Simonovic, I got some great news for you. According to Eurohoops, the Chicago Bulls’ big man is set to compete for the Montenegrin national team in the 2022 Eurobasket tournament. Simonovic joins a long list of NBA players scheduled to attend, including superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo for Greece, Rudy Gobert for France, Nikola Jokic for Serbia, and Luka Doncic for Slovenia.
- As for Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls’ other Montenegro native, he is not expected to participate in the tournament. The only other name for fans to keep an eye on will be Goran Dragic. Whether or not he’ll team up with Doncic and compete for Slovenia seems to be up in the air. He has been included on the preliminary roster sheet, for what it’s worth, but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll choose to play. You can look at the full list of expected participants here.
- I’m happy Simonovic is taking advantage of this opportunity. Not only should he play an extensive role for his home country, but he’ll get a chance to compete against some seriously stiff competition. This should be an opportunity for him to expand on his surprisingly solid Summer League showing, potentially demonstrating to the Bulls organization that he continues to make real progress. Now, do I think how he plays overseas can quickly translate to more playing time in the NBA? No, but it should help with his overall development, which is all we can really ask for right now.
- Speaking of development, Ayo Dosunmu was looking real swole in some recent summer workout clips. I think it’s already fair to say the Bulls found a diamond in the rough with the No. 38th pick, but I expect Dosunmu to confirm it this season. The 22-year-old played a brand of composed and efficient basketball that we simply don’t see from rookies. And if that is his foundation entering the league, it’s impossible not to raise his ceiling even higher.
- Here are some Dosunmu highlights to get you pumped:
- DeMar DeRozan recently appeared on The Draymond Green Show, and the interview is well worth a listen. The five-time All-Star opens up about his free agency experience, as well as his mental health journey. One of the most fun sections of the interview, though, came at the very end when discussing his newfound love for Chicago. ICYMI: Click the link below …
- DeRozan also spoke about his recent experience teaming up with LeBron James at the Drew League. His entire explanation of the event speaks volumes about his love for the game and the Compton community: โThatโs going to do something for them thatโs way beyond basketball. Give them a sense of motivation, confidence, inspiration to want to be something bigger and better than what you see in that moment.โ
- Zach LaVine is the first clip!
- Michael Jordan just can’t stop winning. I got to admit, it’s cool to see some of the youngest and brightest stars in the league still turn to The GOAT. Banchero joins Zion Williamson and Luka Doncic as recent potential superstars to hop aboard.
- Rings are important, but the weight some people put on them in historical discussions is absurd. A handful of great players to touch the hardwood have and will never grab a ring. It is what it is.
- The newest episode of Points in the Podcast is out. My BN co-worker Luis Medina joins me to chat about some of the NBA’s biggest news and the best way to build a team.
- This group is … rough.
- LET’S GOOOO! Boss man Brett will now have to stay awake for 41-straight hours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stop donating to a great cause!
