The Chicago Bulls tip-off the 2021-22 regular season with a bout against the division-rival Detroit Pistons. It’s a game that won’t see first-overall pick Cade Cunningham take the floor. He’ll sit out while dealing with an ankle injury. What we will see is the new-look Bulls for the first time in a game that counts.
Ahead of that, the NBA has rolled out a couple of new promotions celebrating its 75th season.
The first, titled “Welcome to NBA Lane”, features actor Michael B. Jordan driving a bus around a make-believe neighborhood that is inhabited by NBA stars of past and present.
Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan becomes Clyde Drexler as Draymond Green emulates Dennis Rodman for NBAs 75th anniversary
This new video again features a host of NBA heavyweights, ranging from Kevin Durant (Geroge Gervin) and Chris Paul (Bob Cousy) to Luka Doncic (Dirk Nowitzki) and Trae Young (Reggie Miller). They are all of the modern variety this time because they set out to re-create some of the most iconic imagery from the past 75 NBA seasons.
DeMar DeRozan drew Hall of Famer and former Portland Trail Blazers guard, Clyde Drexler, for his scene, which begins at about the 2:00 mark. “The Glide”, as he was known, played 15 seasons in the NBA, more than 11 of which spent with Portland.
Drexler is a 10-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA selection, and, of course, an NBA champion.
DeRozan comments on Drexler’s explosiveness from the two-guard position and how he was one of his favorites coming up.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was chosen to re-create former Chicago Bulls legend and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. The player nicknamed “The Worm” was just as infamous off the court as he was famous on it.
To that last point, Rodman was one of the game’s great rebounders.
For his scene, Green chose one of Rodman’s many dives for a loose ball where he would often be completely horizontal. Rodman also played for the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Dallas Mavericks and holds the record for most 20-rebound games in the NBA with 158.
DeRozan will try to continue to prove concerns over his fit in Chicago were overblown on Thursday and the rest of the season. He got off to a good start at it in the preseason, with the team going undefeated.
Of course, it is an entirely new ballgame now and many have the Bulls fighting for a play-in spot.
Meanwhile, Green’s Warriors are trying to regain their championship form and got what amounts to bragging rights with a 121-114 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night.
The Bulls and Warriors meet for the first time in the new seasons on Nov. 12 in San Francisco.