© David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Caruso says the emergence of the Chicago Bulls' young players is playing a key role in their recent success
The Chicago Bulls’ patience with their young players is paying off. After a dismal start, the Bulls have gone on a solid run with six wins in their last nine games. The play of the young Bulls is a big reason why, as Alex Caruso believes, the team’s future is bright, thanks to their young core.
Learning the right habits
Whereas some young players on other teams are given plenty of playing time and a long leash to learn on the job, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has taken a more patient approach. Whether it’s Coby White coming off the bench in the last two seasons or Patrick Williams getting yanked from the starting five a few games into the season, Donovan has carefully managed the playing minutes of his young players.
This approach has paid off in a big way for the Bulls, as their young core is starting to come into its own.
“Our guys that have been young for the last couple of years are growing up, and they’re getting experience,” Caruso said.
Patrick Williams and Coby White
No two players exemplify growth better than Patrick Williams and Coby White. After a slow start to the season, Williams is playing the best basketball of his young career, averaging 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds on 52 percent shooting, highlighted by a robust 47 percent from beyond the arc in his last 13 games.
This is a far cry from this sluggish start, wherein he averaged 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting an abysmal 33 percent from the field, including 18 percent from deep.
White, on the other hand, is the team’s biggest success story this season. He’s been sizzling in his last 14 matches, averaging 23.4 points, 5.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds.
“They're starting to be around winning plays more often, and they're making them. Pat [Williams] has been playing great for us, Coby’s been playing great for us, Ayo (Dosunmu) has been playing great,” Caruso shared.
“Nobody's perfect, but they've learned what to do, what not to do and I thought they've been much more consistent with the stuff that we're trying.”
