With the Chicago Bulls ruling out Coby White on Sunday afternoon, they had a chance to add a new chapter to one of the top feel-good stories of the season. Head coach Billy Donovan called Lonzo Ball’s name, marking the guard’s first time NBA start since Jan. 14, 2022.
To be sure, the Bulls held onto a tight leash and allowed him to play only 26 minutes of action. But Ball still put together his best performance of the season. The veteran point guard finished with a season-high 15 points on a season-high five made threes. The more time he spends on the floor, the more he continues to look like his former self. Over his last seven games, he has shot 37.5 percent from long range on 4.6 attempts a night.
The injury concerns aren’t going anywhere, and I think we can all understand that. Nonetheless, I’ll remain surprised if a contender or two does not come calling by the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Ball has the kind of two-way talent that would effortlessly fit on any playoff team. And, if we’re being honest, that is the environment he belongs in after walking such a harrowing road.
- Speaking of feel-good stories, DeMar DeRozan was all smiles in his return to the United Center. Despite repeated comments about his desire to stay in the Windy City, the Bulls knew they weren’t in a position to keep the win-now veteran. DeRozan could have stepped back into the building with a chip on his shoulder, but he expressed nothing short of acceptance and understanding when speaking with K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. A true professional.
- DeRozan waxed poetic about his time in Chicago all night long. Not only could you tell how appreciative he was of the way the city embraced him, but you could tell how much it meant to him that they embraced his truest form. DeRozan told ESPN’s Jamal Collier that Chicago will always hold a special place in his heart because of how much the organization trusted him to play his game.
“Toronto will always be No. 1, but I got to put Chicago second,” DeRozan said. “To kind of have a renewed ambition coming to Chicago. I just remember the first meeting I had with [Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley] and them just saying, ‘Come here and just be you.’
“For that to translate to being an All-Star to doing all the incredible things I did here just shows you, you just stay with something, it’ll repay you.”
- Any past questions about the DeMar DeRozan-Zach LaVine relationship felt silly after watching last night’s game. The two couldn’t have looked happier to be on the same court again, and DeRozan also delivered quote an All-Star endorsement for his former teammate after the game.
“The way Zach is playing, I hope he makes All-Star,” DeRozan said (h/t CHGO). “I hope he’s credited for the play he’s been having. It’s not easy, man. That dude works extremely hard. I remember those times when he was dealing with his knee, how frustrated he was. He just wanted to be out there and play, contribute, even playing through injuries. So to see him healthy and doing what we all know he is capable of doing, it’s not surprising to see, but it’s definitely gratifying to see because I know how hard he’s worked on his game.”
- Fans got what they came to see midway through the fourth quarter. With the Bulls up a slim 108-106, DeRozan and LaVine went back-and-forth. The former Bull sank a corner three to take the lead before Zach LaVine ran down the court and drilled a nasty mid-range stepback. DeRozan fired back with one of his signature jumpers OVER LaVine. After two misses from Giddey and Keon Ellis, LaVine drilled a pull-up three to make it 113-111 Bulls. It was awesome.
- Here is a good look at DeRozan’s mid-range make from Melissa Francesca on X. LaVine couldn’t help but give him a pat on the back afterward …
- Ultimately, the Bulls lost the game in the most Bulls way ever. With 14.0 seconds left on the clock and a chance to even things up, they were called with a 5-second violation coming out of a timeout. Now, did I find the whistle to be too quick? Absolutely, as did several other Bulls after the game. But I’m still not sure that’s a good enough excuse. You just can’t lose a game on a 5-second call.
- Nikola Vucevic has made the third-biggest leap in three-point shooting talent this season, per BBall-Index. After shooting only 29.4 percent from downtown in 2023-24, Vucevic is up to 43.3 percent on 4.3 attempts per game. He is following up his worst year shooting the three-ball with his best. Whatever he did during the offseason to course correct worked wonders.
- Seth Jones’ return for the Blackhawks hasn’t come with the production many fans hoped to see. Tab talks more about that in his morning notes.
- With the Bears head coaching search moving along, Patrick went ahead and did a new power ranking of the best names available.
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