Billy Donovan says Torrey Craig will still play a key role despite him being sidelined for an extended period

"I do think his voice is important to the team"

© Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

A veteran’s voice in the locker room or on the bench can be valuable, and that’s what Torrey Craig will bring to the table for the Chicago Bulls. Despite being sidelined for up to two months due to a foot injury, Bulls coach Billy Donovan believes in Torrey's value as a leader and expects him to remain an integral part of the team.

“I do think his voice is important to the team,” Donovan said.

Veteran leader

Craig has been through many intense battles in the NBA, including some memorable postseason stints with the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns. This experience holds a lot of weight in the locker room and makes Craig a superb asset, even if he isn’t in uniform. This was evident in Chicago’s recent win over Philadelphia, which saw Craig stay on the bench for the game and cheer his teammates from the sidelines.

“He’s done a really good job there with that. I think even in huddles and timeouts, he was engaged in Philly, and we need that from him,” Donovan said.

LeBron stopped to take a pic with Torrey Craig's son on his way out pic.twitter.com/JQU50hedxa

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) December 21, 2023

Tough injury

Donovan acknowledged the long road Craig has in front of him to get back on the court, saying the veteran needs to be diligent and careful with his rehabilitation so as not to re-aggravate the injury. The Bulls announced on Tuesday that Craig had suffered an acute sprain of his right plantar fascia that needs four weeks of immobilization and four to six weeks of rehabilitation.

“When it’s plantar fasciitis like that, and it’s that kind of sprain, those things have always been a little bit tricky, so I think the rehab part for him is really critical,” Donovan said.

“You just feel bad that something like this is going to take that amount of time. He certainly worked really hard, and you hate to see a guy go out for that kind of duration.

Injury Update: Torrey Craig has been diagnosed with an acute sprain of his right plantar fascia.

Craig will be immobilized for approximately four weeks followed by a period of rehabilitation projected to require an additional four to six weeks.

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 19, 2023

Torrey Craig will miss two months due to an acute sprain of the right plantar fascia