Chicago Bulls player rankings at the quarter mark: Top tier
I won’t lie, it was difficult figuring out who would round out the “upper tier” and who would start off the “top tier”. Given the fact that so much attention is given to the top two stars for the Bulls this season, it was also difficult not just to put the top duo to round out the list. Yet, the third player in this ranking has contributed in an untold way that the Bulls needed for a long time now.
That impact has been felt in a big way and needs to be mentioned with the Bulls’ top tier through the first quarter of the season.
3. Lonzo Ball, PG
The Bulls finally got their elusive point guard of the future when they landed Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans in a big-time sign-and-trade deal during the offseason. Lonzo’s two-way impact is exactly what the Bulls needed.
Lonzo has really become one of the premier point guards in multiple respects in the NBA. He’s proved he’s one of the top shooters among point guards while maintaining his vision and playmaking ability. That’s not to mention the fact that he’s still one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
He’s averaged around a dozen points per game, five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block while shooting 42 percent from the field, and an insane 44 percent from beyond the arc.
2. Zach LaVine, SG
It looks like the Bulls are going to have two potential All-Star selections and dark-horse MVP contenders this season if the final two players up on this list keep playing the way they have in the first quarter of the 2021-22 campaign.
We start off here with star shooting guard Zach LaVine. And you could easily make a case for LaVine to be in either one of the top two spots in this ranking.
LaVine has adjusted well to playing alongside another high-usage star that plays a similar position that he does. Through the first 20 games of the season, LaVine has averaged around 26 points per game, five rebounds, four assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 49 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc, and 87 percent from the free-throw line. LaVine should challenge to join the 50/40/90 club again this season.
1. DeMar DeRozan, F
A number of the concerns that I personally had when the Bulls originally got the sign-and-trade deal done with the San Antonio Spurs to acquire the four-time All-Star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan during the offseason have actually smoothed over pretty well. DeRozan is playing better defense than were accustomed to.
And the fact that he’s not traditionally the best three-point shooter for a wing hasn’t really limited his game this season. In fact, DeRozan has shot north of 36 percent from beyond the arc so far this season.
If DeRozan keeps up the production and efficiency that he had through the first 20 games this season, he should clearly be on his way to his fifth career All-Star nod and third All-NBA Team selection. He’s averaged around 26 points per game, five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and 0.5 blocks while shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent from the free-throw line.
Who would’ve ever guessed that DeRozan would be this close to joining the 50/40/90 club at this point of his first season with the Bulls?