MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Rob Dillingham has now played in 22 consecutive games since joining the Bulls.
Maybe not always the amount of minutes he would want but definitely minutes he’s been grateful for.
So there should seemingly be a level of confidence about his place in the rotation moving forward, not only the remainder of this season but into next year.
Don’t try and sell Dillingham on that.
“It’s a good feeling that I’m getting the opportunity, but I don’t feel comfortable at all,” Dillingham admitted. “I don’t feel like I’ve proven anything, so my goal is just to help us win, help us get better, be the best I can be.”
A good attitude to have, but also a reminder of the scars he was still wearing from his time in Minnesota.
Selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 draft, Dillingham never seemed to be the right fit for what the Timberwolves wanted out of him.
He’s already been very public about his minutes drying up and his confidence soon followed, but he’s also been good about taking responsibility for why it didn’t work out up North.
That’s what the remaining eight games, and especially this summer, will be about for Dillingham: Making sure the Bulls understand he is willing and able to fix his deficiencies, and they can count on him as a core piece.
“I’m just trying to win games, get better, pay attention to the details, do the little things,” Dillingham added. “Do the stuff that’s going to allow me to play. That’s what I’m focused on. The summer is going to be a big summer, but for now I’m focused on winning.”
Easy rider
This current locker room is very aware of the players that are under contract beyond the rest of this season and the handful of players that are in walk years. In Josh Giddey’s eyes, however, it stays in the locker room.
Because he is the main facilitator and has his hands on the ball most possessions, Giddey was asked if he tends to try and make sure the core players are getting more touches, especially since their improvement has staying power.
“I don’t really look at it that way because I don’t know who is going to be here for sure,” Giddey said. “Obviously, there are a lot of free agents and we’re probably not going to have the exact same team that we have now. My job is to make everyone’s life easy and whoever is on the court on any given night … and it’s been different. We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup with injuries and things like that, but I don’t overthink it. Whoever is out there on the floor I’m trying to make their life easy.”
M.A.S.H. Unit
Maybe Bulls coach Billy Donovan wasn’t downplaying the idea of being more cognizant of players dealing with injuries once the team was eliminated from any type of postseason play.
Guerschon Yabusele played Friday in Oklahoma City but has been hampered with a bum left ankle for a bit and so was in street clothes against the Grizzlies.
He joined fellow bigs Jalen Smith (right calf) and Nick Richards (right elbow) on the bench, who both missed the game against the Thunder.