2. Luol Deng
Let’s just breeze through that stats and accomplishments of Luol Deng, who played in Chicago for 10 seasons:
- The most points scored by a Bulls player since Jordan, and the only one to eclipse 10,000 points. Has also made more shots than any other Bulls player since then, making 800 more than second-place Rose.
- Second in rebounds by a Bulls player since Jordan, surpassed only by Noah–a center.
- Fourth in assists and blocks and second in steals among Bulls players since Jordan.
- Has started more games than any other Bulls player since Jordan.
- Averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists over his 10 season. Only Scottie Pippen and Artis Gilmore met those averages over multiple seasons in Chicago.
- Made two All-Star games in 2012 and 2013.
Phew. Okay, with that out of the way, we can focus on what made Deng the second-greatest Bulls player since Jordan. Where Hinrich specialized in longevity and Butler stood out because of his overall game and Noah embodied the Thibs-era culture, Deng is all of that wrapped up into one.
As Thibodeau’s starting small forward, Deng was the ultimate glue guy. If they needed him to score, he’d score. If they needed him to help facilitate, he’d get the ball to his teammates. If they needed him to rebound, he’d do that, and then push the ball down the floor. If they needed him to stand in the corner and hit 3-pointers, he’d do that, too. Then Thibs would ask him to guard the opponent’s best player, and Deng would be game. And he did it for 10 years.
Had Deng sacrificed the rebounds and assists and, instead, focused on scoring four more points per game, he’d had been an All-Star more than twice. It wasn’t until late in his prime that he started to gain the respect he deserved. His two All-Star appearances came in his last two full seasons in Chicago.