© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic primed for the regular season
For established NBA stars, the preseason is nothing more than a formality, a warmup, if you will. It's a chance for players to knock off the offseason rust, get back into the groove of things, and shake off any lingering cobwebs. But for players like DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, the preseason presents a unique opportunity. Both hit the ground running, and as a result, the Chicago Bulls head to the regular in a good place — knowing their two All-Stars are ready to rock and roll.
Midseason form in the preseason
While some NBA stars opt to make a token appearance, DeRozan went at the preseason hard. He averaged 21.3 points on almost 60% shooting from the field. A master at drawing fouls, he also shot nearly eight free-throws in just 24 minutes of playing time. Most importantly, DeRozan suited up in three of the team's four preseason games, showing an eagerness to play, no matter the stakes.
"I always wondered how does that work with certain guys. Do they go to their coach? I just want to play. I play all summer for free," said DeRozan, who spent time in the summer playing the renowned Drew League.
Bounceback season
Meanwhile, Vucevic was equally impressive. The big man showed a sharp shooting touch — hitting 68% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. He averaged a near-double-double of 14.8 points and 9.5 rebounds. But perhaps most importantly, he looked comfortable in his role as team leader, showing good chemistry with his teammates.
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan heaped praise on Vucevic for embracing the tasks that are being asked of him this season.
"Some of the things that we're asking him to do is a little bit different than what he's done for most of his career. And I really appreciate and respect that he can see and have an open mind to that. Here's a guy that's been an elite player in this league for a long time and an incredible scorer.But I also think he's got enough confidence in his own ability that wherever you put him, he can be effective and productive," Donovan said.
With the regular season just days away, DeRozan and Vucevic are primed to have big seasons. These two All-Stars will be key for the Bulls in their quest for a deep playoff run this year — and they're ready to take on that challenge head-on. So stay tuned, Bulls fans — this will be a season you won't want to miss!
