Brian Scalabrine rarely left the Bench in Chicago, but that didn't stop fans from falling in love with him.

CHICAGO – He’s a fan favorite in Chicago. Almost every game his name is chanted my thousands of fans no matter if he’s home or away. People make signs for him, customize jerseys and shirts and he will always have a special place in the hearts of Bulls fans.

No it’s not Derrick Rose or Micheal Jordan. It’s the White Mamba himself, Brian Scalabrine. Ever since he arrived in Chicago, fans have had an odd attraction to the ginger forward.

But his days in Chicago may be over.

The 6’9″ Scalabrine is entering his eleventh year in the NBA and he knows he doesn’t have much gas left in the tank. He told Chicago Tribune reporter K.C. Johnson (a favorite of mine) during the season that he was leaning towards finishing his playing days in Europe. For the 33 year old, those plans may have hit the fast track.

With the NBA officially locked out, Scalabrine is without an NBA city to call home. Even when the lockout ends, Scalabrine won’t have a home as he will be a free agent. His age and the lack of a contract weighing him down has given the White Mamba the wings he deserves to fly off to where ever he wants to go next.

He played for a total of three teams over his ten years in the NBA, playing in the NBA Finals four times, twice with his first team the New Jersey Nets and twice with his second team the Boston Celtics. He won a ring with Boston and has been loved and adored by local fans at all three of his NBA stops. When he stops by New Jersey or Boston in enemy colors, there was no LeBron James-eque booing or taunting. Instead he was met with admiration and affection from all who crossed his path.

“I enjoyed my time in Chicago,” he said. “The city and fans and team were great. Every experience I go through is (more…)

“Thibs came in and talked to us, and was telling us we can’t let down against teams like this, where we’ve got to come out and play aggressive and have an edge,” said Rose, who had 21 points and nine assists. “You don’t never want to come into a game like this where you give them confidence.”

The Bulls did everything but let down.

And their edge was razor sharp.

Speaking of razor sharp, Luol Deng put together another lights out night putting up 21 points of his own. Carlos Boozer also recorded another double-double while Joakim Noah remained red hot snagging a double-double of his own with 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was also another occurrence where the Bulls were in a visiting arena, but the fans were decked out in red, white and black. And those fans, who came out in droves, were treated to a rare but much beloved event; a Brian Scalabrine sighting. Scalabrine came off the bech to score two points but it resulted in the droves of fans erupting in “SCA-LA-BREEE-NEE” chants.

The atmosphere was electric.

Which is in of itself, a rare occasion at the Verizon Center in Washington.

The Bulls match-up against the Hawks next in Atlanta for the first time this year on Wednesday.

Catch all the reaction and recaps on Bulls Talk tomorrow.