NEWSLETTER
Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut … again.
The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for the front office to use the exception. Green has spent the entirety of this season with the Santa Cruz Warriors, which serves as the G-League affiliate for the Golden State franchise.
Unfortunately, the undersized – yet versatile – wing struggled to find a home this past offseason. He had to undergo a knee surgery midway through last season with the Bulls. While he was able to return near the end of the season, it was clear that Green wasn’t fully healthy. Arturas Karnisovas and Co. then decided not to bring Green back and target players like Torrey Craig and Jevon Carter.
Well … I wonder if they feel like they made a mistake. We’re only talking about 9 minutes of action, but Green’s first stint back with the Bulls reminded us of all the good he brings to the floor.
Less than a minute after Green checked into the game, he caught the Pacers’ defense sleeping with a dive cut to the rim. Andre Drummond quickly dished him the ball, which Javonte Green finished at the rim.
Here’s the heads-up play …
Less than a minute after that, Green was in the paint as Andrew Nembhard found the ball in his hands and tried to rise toward the rim. Green met him right at his peak and stuffed him. The crowd was hyped.
Here ya go …
After Green entered the game at the 8:33 mark, the Bulls would go on a 24-8 run to take a 62-40 lead. Coincidence? I think not. While he may have only entered the locker room with 5 points, Javonte Green’s energy provided an undeniable spark for this Bulls team.
