Chicago Bulls point guard Kris Dunn isn’t getting the respect that he deserves. It’s getting to the point where it’s just unfair, so I wrote about why I’m a huge fan of Dunn.
Never give up.
That’s what Kris Dunn is all about.
Kris Dunn’s childhood is well documented as he had to go through a lot in order make it to the NBA. Kris and his older brother lived with his single mother. When Dunn was nine years old, his mother would most of the time be in jail. Kris and his brother lived by themselves in a two-bedroom apartment.
His brother would play dice while Kris challenged older kids at the park to play him one-on-one in basketball. The winner of those games would win 20 dollars. Dunn would use that money for food. If Dunn did lose, then he would either run away or have to fight the other kids because he wouldn’t have the money to pay them.
One day his father located him and brought him and his brother to Connecticut. Kris Dunn attended New London High School, and was the starting point guard as a freshman. As a sophomore, Kris led the team to a state title game.
Dunn kept fighting through adversity in college
Scouts from colleges started to attend Dunn’s basketball games. He decided that he was going to play college basketball at Providence. Kris didn’t have a good start there, as in his freshman year he suffered a torn labrum in right shoulder. He’s sophomore year wasn’t any better, as he only played in four games before suffering the same injury to the same shoulder.
Days after that injury, Kris Dunn’s mother died at the age of 50. Dunn wasn’t in a good place during that time because he didn’t know if his basketball career was over, and he was also dealing with the loss of his mother.
Kris Dunn came back a year after and he showed the world that he isn’t giving up on his dream. Dunn averaged 15.6 points, 7.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds per game. He led the Big East in assists and steals per game. Dunn could’ve declared for the 2015 NBA Draft, but he wasn’t satisfied with his game so he came back for another season.
In his senior season at Providence, Dunn averaged 16.4 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game. Kris Dunn became one of the best defensive guards in the NCAA. He declared for the 2016 NBA draft, and was drafted fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
NBA
Once again, Dunn was facing adversity in his first year in the NBA. In his first season in the NBA, Dunn averaged 3.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was the backup point guard in Minnesota and struggled to make a positive impact when he was on the floor. He showed some glimpses, but at the end he had a really rough first season in the league.
At the 2017 NBA draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Kris Dunn to the Chicago Bulls. The trade to the Chicago Bulls was a fresh start for Kris. He started in 43 games for the Bulls and had an impressive bounce back year.
Dunn averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game. He was selected for the Rising Stars Challenge at the All Star weekend. Dunn is a good offensive player, but that isn’t the reason why I’m such a huge fan. Defense wins you games, and Dunn takes pride on defense. He averaged 2.0 steals per game, which was tied for fourth-best in the NBA. He makes opponents work for every shot. Every defensive possession is important for Dunn. He takes his matchups personally and that just fires me up.
What I also love about Kris Dunn is that he gives back to the community. Dunn is only 24 years old, but he has been through a lot. Last year, he teamed up with a home security company called Canary to donate 400 security cameras to families that live in South Side Chicago.
Too many people are counting Dunn out
A lot of Bulls fans on Twitter don’t think that Kris Dunn is the point guard of the future for the organization, and that really annoys me. People keep knocking this guy down, and he keeps proving them wrong. I think Dunn has the potential of becoming one of the best two-way players in the league. And for those people who think he isn’t working on his game this summer, here’s a picture of him at the gym.
Some familiar faces back in the gym @benbentil @HentonBuckets23 @KrisDunn3 forever Friars! #GoFriars pic.twitter.com/hDRGUDfuoO
— Providence MBB (@PCFriarsmbb) June 8, 2018
I love watching Dunn play because he doesn’t care who he’s going against, he will not back down from anyone.
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It’s not just a game for Kris Dunn, it’s a lifestyle. This is what he loves to do and he will put his body on the line in order to win games. He is only 24 years old and is entering his third season in the NBA. He will only get better. Kris Dunn never gives up, and you shouldn’t give up on him.