The Bulls of Summer: Jack Cooley
On Thursday, the Chicago Bulls announced their Las Vegas Summer League roster which includes Jack Cooley. The list was expanded to 13 players, including several players who are expected to play a significant role for the Bulls now and in the future along with a handful of longshots and D-League bound fringe ballers.
The Bulls will play at least five games in Las Vegas between July 9 and July 18 and the Bulls have won their first two games, beating the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
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A lot of people may be familiar with names like Jerian Grant, but not everyone knows players like Dez Wells. Over the next few days we will give you the 4-1-1 on each of the players on the Bulls roster for Summer League.
Who: Jack Cooley
Position: Forward
Age: 25
Background: There are a few things that Gar Forman and John Paxson are infamous for, among them is their affinity for their alma maters and past stomping grounds. Forman has repeatedly sought out Iowa State affiliated players and coaches, the most notable recent addition being head coach Fred Hoiberg. Meanwhile, a series of players affiliated with Notre Dame seems to be the design of Paxson. Enter, Jack Cooley. The forward played for Notre Dame from 2009 to 2013.
After two rather unremarkable seasons as an underclassman, Cooley took a leap forward as a junior and really stepped up in his senior season of 2012-13, he averaged a double-double of 13.1 points and 10.1 rebounds. After college ball, Cooley played for both the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies during summer leagues in 2013. Following those experiences, Cooley signed with Trabzonspor in Turkey for the 2013 season. Cooley was back in the NBA summer league program in 2014, again with the Memphis Grizzlies and then also with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, Cooley signed with the Utah Jazz for 2014-15, playing 5.4 minutes per game in 16 appearances. Those appearances are all of the experience Cooley has managed in the league up to this point.
Cooley bounced back-and-forth between 10-day contracts with the Jazz, training camp signings with the Cavaliers, and time with the Idaho Stampede in the D-League, where he set a D-League record of 29 rebounds in a single game. Cooley eventually ended up back in Europe, playing with Unicaja of Liga ACB.
Outlook: Cooley made an immediate impact in the Las Vegas Summer League with the Bulls, scoring 11 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in 16 minutes against Boston. He was a hit with the commentators, too. At one point in the game the broadcast crew alluded to a comparison between Cooley and legendary “Big Country” Bryant Reeves of the Vancouver Grizzlies. It had nothing to do with his game, instead it was a comparison of hairstyles. In the second game of summer league against the 76ers, Cooley didn’t fare as well. He ended the game with more fouls (5) than points (4).
It’s hard to say where Cooley will end up in the fall. He has been popular with fans so far in the LVSL, but he is far from a sure thing and likely doesn’t get an opportunity for more than the D-League with the Windy City Bulls. Cooley probably stands to face better competition and receive better pay if he elects to go back to Europe if he has to choose between playing in Spain or Turkey while competing in the EuroCup than if he hangs around the suburbs of Chicago.