1) Stars Chicago Bulls fans should want for Christmas
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forward
A superstar that the Bulls have essentially no chance of getting at this point, but it was a pipedream at one point in time, was the Milwaukee Bucks reigning back-to-back MVP winner and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bulls, along with the other 28 teams (outside of the Bucks) around the NBA landscape, likely had thoughts of pursuing Giannis in free agency next summer.
However, the Bucks managed to ink down Giannis to a max contract extension entering the 2020-21 regular season that surprised many. With the Bucks postseason struggles over the course of the last two seasons, many expected Giannis to at least see out this season before he signed any contract extension to stay in the Cream City over the long haul.
It was a nice job by the Bucks to get him signed down to a five-year contract extension worth just shy of $230 million in total. That might help the Bucks pile up even more talent next offseason, depending on how things shake out for them this season.
Statistically Giannis is the most impressive player in the NBA right now. During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Giannis played in 63 games with the Bucks (all of which he started in). And he averaged 29.5 points per game, 13.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Giannis shot 55.3 percent from the field, 30.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 63.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Although the Bucks ultimately fell short to the star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in their regular season opener on Dec. 23, Giannis was solid for his team. He registered 35 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, no steals, and two blocks.