The Chicago Bulls have received some unlikely contributions from a deep bench unit this season; that group has played a large role in the team's hot start. But no one has been more of a pleasant surprise than reserve center Jalen Smith.
Heading into an Oct. 10 matchup with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, Ayo Dosunmu was Chicago's third leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. He has zero starts. Kevin Huerter was fifth in scoring at 13.1 ppg -- his first start came against the Spurs. Patrick Williams was playing close to 23 minutes a night and averaging 8.6 points.
But Smith has been a revelation.
Jalen Smith is playing a critical role for the Chicago Bulls
Smith signed a three-year, $27 million contract with Chicago during the summer of 2024. Coming off an age-23 season in which he averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 59.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three (2.4 attempts per game) with the Indiana Pacers, it seemed like a relatively team-friendly deal for a projected backup big.
But near the end of last season, as he dealt with the effects of a concussion, Smith fell out of head coach Billy Donovan's rotation. From Feb. 20 through game 82, the former top-10 pick played in only 14 games and averaged just 14.1 minutes per contest.
With Zach Collins in the fold after arriving via trade from San Antonio, Smith scored 6.9 points and grabbed 5.9 rebounds during that span while shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 20.5 percent from three. With Collins still in the Windy City, it was fair to wonder what Smith's role would be and how he could contribute this year.
But then Collins hurt his wrist and has been glued to the bench this season, which opened the door for Smith to get minutes as the main center behind Nikola Vucevic. The former Maryland star has been shockingly productive. Before the Oct. 10 game against the Spurs, Smith was averaging 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds -- nearly two of them on the offensive end -- in only 15.3 minutes per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from deep.
Jalen Smith continuing to shine for Chicago
Against the Spurs and Wembanyama, Smith had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in 21 minutes. He had 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes against the New York Knicks on Halloween. Two nights later, he finished with 12 points in just 16 minutes against those same Knicks.
He had 14 points in 17 minutes against the 76ers on Nov. 4 and 18 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 8.
Heading into this season, the Bulls hoped that Stix, as he's affectionately known in Chicago, would provide a boost in spot minutes behind Vucevic and Collins. They surely never thought he'd lock down a crucial role on one of the best benches in the NBA.