Predicting the Next Chicago Bulls 1-On-1 Champion

The last time Chicago Bulls players went mano a mano, an unlikely champion was crowned. Could he repeat or is another surprise in store?

Last October the Chicago Bulls behind the scenes show, Run With Us, showed the team taking part in an age-old tradition. One-on-one is basically basketball’s purest form. There is no scheme or plays to beat a defender. No teammates to take the pressure off in the clutch. Just two players in a contentious battle often for no more than bragging rights.

We often look at the most obvious traits in players to determine who we think would win in such scenarios. It should come as no surprise, then, that the reaction to Ryan Arcidiacono winning the tournament was, well, surprise.

The six-foot-something scrappy guard out of Villanova isn’t what anyone would consider a scoring threat. But there he was, facing off against Zach LaVine for the title. LaVine, Chicago’s leading scorer the last two seasons, has every physical advantage imaginable. But Arc took advantage of a miss and came away with the victory. Ryan Arcidiacono, Bulls 1-on-1 champ.

With that recent history in mind, and no games being played (*sobs uncontrollably*) let’s look at how the tournament might go the next time around.

The Bulls website currently lists 17 players on the roster. Players are seeded by minutes per game and, to even out the brackets, Arcidiacono will get the pass as reigning champ. He will await whoever survives the gauntlet like Shao Khan or M. Bison.

Everyone is presumed healthy and, at least in theory, has an equal opportunity to move on. Well, that theory is about to be put to the test.

Without further ado, let’s get to it!