Chicago Bulls: Garrett Temple wants to return next season
Following the conclusion to the regular season over the weekend, a number of key Chicago Bulls players and personnel are now conducting their press conferences/interviews heading into the offseason. A lot can be taken away from these end-of-season press conferences, as players tend to give more matter-of-fact statements than they would during the regular season.
A key Bulls player that gave his end-of-season press conference early this week, specifically on May 17, was the veteran 35-year-old shooting guard and 6-foot-5 and 195 pound Garrett Temple.
In his end-of-season press conference, Temple stated that “hopefully I’m back next year”. His contract runs up this offseason. Since the Bulls only signed him to a one-year contract out of free agency last offseason, his time in Chicago could be in jeopardy. There aren’t many leading indicators showing through at the moment in regard to how the front office is leaning for their decision to re-sign Temple this summer.
Garrett Temple: “Hopefully I’m back next year.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 17, 2021
Garrett Temple wants to return with the Chicago Bulls next season
It is nice to hear that Temple wants to come back to Chicago and continue playing under to-be second-year head coach Billy Donovan. That signals some level of buy-in from the veterans in the locker room heading into the offseason.
The Bulls mostly got the type of production you would anticipate out of Temple this season. In 56 games played with the Bulls in the season that was, Temple averaged 7.6 points per game, 2.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks. And he shot 41.5 percent from the field, 33.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Next season will be Temple’s 11th in the NBA. He is a former LSU Tiger and undrafted free agent signing of the Houston Rockets following the 2009 NBA Draft. The Bulls are the 10th team that he’s played for in his long career to date.
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The Bulls finished up the 2020-21 regular season with a record of 31-41 following their May 16 win at home at the United Center over the Milwaukee Bucks. They missed out on the postseason for the fourth consecutive year.