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5 key games to watch for the Chicago Bulls in 2017-18 NBA season

By Michael Whitlow

BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, MN - JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jimmy Butler, former member of the Chicago Bulls.
BLOOMINGTON, MN – JUNE 29: Tom Thibobeau introduces Jimmy Butler of the Minnesota Timberwolves to the public during a press conference at the Mall of America on June 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. The return of Jimmy Butler in the lone national TV game for the Bulls this season

This one was pretty much a given, right? I mean, duh.

Jimmy Butler, along with Taj Gibson and former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, will make his first return to Chicago as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves on Feb. 9.

This game will have tons of hoopla surrounding it. Not only is it Butler’s first return to Chicago as a member of a new team, it’s Gibson’s first venture back since being traded before the deadline to Oklahoma City last season.

And, with the way Tom Thibodeau was seemingly forced out of Chicago by the front office a few summers ago, it’s always intriguing when his voice is echoing throughout the United Center from the sideline again.

This is going to be an emotional night for a lot of Bulls fans. Jimmy Butler may not have won an NBA Rookie of the Year award or an MVP award, but he made three straight All-Star Games, won a Most Improved Player award and became a top-15 player in the NBA today. He’s the best non-point guard the Bulls have had since Michael Jordan retired a second time.

Next: The full schedule included some notes about the 2017-18 schedule

It’s going to be great to see Butler back in Chicago. Whether you had a Butler jersey or you had the awful dive bar-like take of him being an overrated player during his time in Chicago, emotions will be running high for the Bulls’ only national TV game of this upcoming season.

Time to bust out those half-and-half Wade and Butler Marquette jerseys if you have ’em.

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