Will Ryan Arcidiacono be the next Chicago Bulls folk hero?

Chicago Bulls guard Ryan Arcidiacono has been one of the bright spots in the young season, but does he have the makings to be a Chicago Bulls folk hero?

It’s been a while since Chicago Bulls fans have had a folk hero to help keep them warm inside on cold, winless nights in the Windy City.

I had hope for Paul Zipser. Alas, his fluid stroke and eminently nickname-able name were defeated by inconsistency and an inability to guard. Although Gar Forman was “thrilled” to get the Heidelberg inhabitant with the 48th pick in 2016, Zipser was not destined for Bulls folklore.

Bulls folk heroes are not born. They’re made.

There are many ways for such a beloved player to emerge. For instance, Nate Robinson went thermonuclear scoring in the 2013 playoffs. Kirk Hinrich bridged Bulls eras with hard-nosed defense and reliability. Brian Scalabrine was Brian Scalabrine.

Ryan Arcidiacono could be the next in line.

The Case

The Chicago Bulls can truly use a player like Arcidiacano right now; the now-injured Kris Dunn is the most physically talented point guard on the roster, but he still has propensities for inefficient scoring and careless turnovers. Arcidiacono is a pass-first point who takes care of the rock.

He has also outplayed Cameron Payne, a guy who has several times dribbled the ball off his own legs, and twisted his own ankle sans-contact to cap off his career-best performance. Sorry, Cam.

Despite his scant number of highlights videos yet posted on YouTube, Arcidiacono has proven himself to be an NBA-level point guard with snappy instincts on offense, a stellar assist-to-turnover ratio, a willingness to mix it up on defense, and a good-looking shooting form to boot.

This season, he is averaging 5.8 points and 4.9 assists, and 0.7 turnovers in only 23.5 minutes per contest. These stats might not be flashy, but along with 46% from the field and 44% from three on 2.9 attempts, they reveal Arci’s determination and impact on the team.

However, a folk hero, no matter if the context is the hardwood or the wild west, must also have that something extra, that je ne sais quoi that pushes him beyond earthly existence and into the ether of folklore. This elusive nature results from an amalgamation of several elements.

One important attribute is the look. Nate had the stature (or lack thereof), Kirk had the goggles, and Arci has a slicked-back, pomade-drenched coif. A glistening lock strewn over the forehead can only help cement a player’s lore.

It also doesn’t hurt to have a memorable name. Many may need to sound out “Arcidiacono” at first, but it does lend itself to nicknames. Basketball Reference and Stacy King identify him as “Arch,” but “Arci” has also appeared in several corners of the internet.

Arci even wears an interesting, off-kilter number: 51. It could be that Arcidiacono relinquished 15, the numeral he donned as a Villanova Wildcat, to rookie Chandler Hutchison, but gargantuan Los Angeles Clippers folk hero Boban Marjanovic also wears 51. Coincidence? Probably, but still.

The Bottom Line

Traditionally, a folk hero is a person of the people, an individual whose personality and deeds leave an imprint on the collective consciousness of a population. Besides his blue-collar hustle plays and steady hand on both ends of the court, Arci’s story deserves respect:

Ryan Arcidiacono played four years in college, went undrafted and landed on the Austin Spurs’ summer league roster in 2016, scrapped his way into a two-way contract with the Bulls, and finally landed a full-time roster spot at the cusp of the regular season this year.

Per a K.C. Johnson piece released right after the signing in mid-October, Arcidiacono said, “Whatever the team needs, that’s what they’ll get from me.”

Even if he doesn’t stick with the Chicago Bulls for long, Bulls fans will love Arci for every minute that he brings that mindset to the court.

Only fans and time can determine if a Bull finds himself fossilized as a folk hero, but Ryan Arcidiacano has made a promising case so far.