Chicago Bulls: Regardless of volume, P-Will’s aggressiveness is key

Although the Chicago Bulls did not achieve the desired result in the team’s opening game in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League on the afternoon of Aug. 9, one key player did stick out with how he played. Second-year former Florida State Seminoles forward Patrick Williams was much more aggressive for the Bulls in his Summer League debut.

It felt like we were watching a different version of Williams in his first NBA game action since the conclusion of his rookie season a few months ago. Williams not only led the Bulls in minutes played in this Summer League meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans to open up play in Las Vegas this week, but he also had a game-high 20 field goal attempts.

In fact, there was not a single game last season where P-Will had more than 14 field goal attempts. And the average number of field goal attempts per game last season for P-Will as a rookie with the Bulls was around 7.5.

Patrick Williams shows the confidence the Chicago Bulls want him to exude

P-Will did not have the most efficient outing ever, especially considering the 20 field goal attempts he took in this game. But the aggressiveness and added confidence are what head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls need to see out of him in Summer League, Training Camp, and the preseason.

In this tough 94-77 loss for the Bulls to the Pelicans to open up the Summer League schedule on Aug. 9, P-Will registered 15 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, three assists, no steals, no blocks, and five turnovers. And he shot 6-of-20 from the field, 1-of-5 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-3 from the free-throw line.

This was definitely not the most efficient stat line that we will ever see P-Will put up. But the fact of the matter is that a more confident and polished version of this former Florida State standout is exactly what Donovan and the Bulls need heading into next season.

P-Will is about to join a starting unit for the Bulls that is much better than it was during his rookie campaign. The Bulls look to have a starting five featuring the likes of point guard Lonzo Ball, star shooting guard Zach LaVine, shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan, P-Will, and center Nikola Vucevic.

Next up for P-Will and the Bulls in Summer League is a chance to respond against another Western Conference foe on Aug. 10. The Bulls will face the San Antonio Spurs on Aug. 10, with tip-off time set for 8 p.m. CT.