Chicago Bulls studs from the preseason: Javonte Green
Donovan and the Bulls called upon the former Boston Celtics shooting guard Javonte Green to fill a role in the starting unit throughout most of the preseason in the absence of second-year forward Patrick Williams. And he filled that role admirably as the Bulls needed someone who could fill some defensive gaps while still remaining a threat as a catch-and-shoot option from downtown.
Green’s on-ball and help defense were the most valued parts of his contributions to the Bulls during the preseason. While Green was always an underrated on-ball defender to start out his career, this might be the season where he finally starts getting the recognition he deserves.
The per-game stats that Green posted during the preseason were fantastic. He averaged six points per game, five rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two blocks. And he shot 62.5 percent from the field, 100 percent from beyond the arc, and 100 percent from the free-throw line.
That was good to place Green in the top three on the team during the preseason in shooting percentage in each of those categories, defensive rating, and player efficiency rating. He had a truly stellar preseason run, and it should earn him some key minutes off the bench during the regular season.
Green started in three of the Bulls’ four preseason games. The return of P-Will to the rotation moved Green to the bench in the preseason finale, though. If there was one Bulls player that definitely earned himself a bigger role off the bench from his play during the preseason, it was Green.