Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn is having a stellar season on the defensive end of the court, and he’s finally getting some national recognition for his efforts.
As a team, the Chicago Bulls have had a rough season. Kris Dunn, on the other hand, is enjoying the breakout season Bulls fans have been waiting for. He isn’t doing it in the typical young point guard way, though. He hasn’t found his jumper, he still isn’t an advanced playmaker and he’s barely worthy of being a starter.
Dunn has broken out in a unique way. He’s done it almost completely on the defensive end of the court, becoming one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.
Sometimes it can be tough for players on losing teams to get the recognition they deserve, but ESPN’s Zach Lowe gave Dunn a well-deserved spot in his weekly column on Friday.
Lowe has one of the best weekly NBA columns on the internet right now. He breaks down 10 things that he likes and doesn’t like, and in his most recent one, he mentioned how much he likes Kris Dunn’s acceptance of his new role.
In the section on Dunn, Lowe points out KD’s defensive skill both on and off the ball. He makes special note of Dunn’s ability to drive opposing players crazy with his unrelenting defensive tenacity and his determination to break up routine dribble hand-offs.
Lowe is telling the world what Bulls fans have known all season long. I’ll take someone like Kawhi Leonard or Paul George in the playoffs, but on any given Tuesday in January, Dunn is arguably the best perimeter defender in the league. He brings it every single night, and the numbers prove it.
Dunn getting some national recognition for his defensive efforts very well may earn him some appointment viewing for NBA nerds over the next few months. If that’s the case, he could find himself on an NBA All-Defensive Team.
KD will have his toughest test of the season tomorrow when he’ll likely be matched up with the sensational Luka Doncic. It’ll be a fun one-on-one battle for those that appreciate a generational talent on offense squared up with tenacious pest on defense.