The Chicago Bulls’ summer core made its debut against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night, highlighted by 12th overall pick Noa Essengue and undrafted free agent Caleb Grill suiting up in an NBA uniform for the first time. To put their Summer League expectations in perspective, here is a look at ten Bulls players with the best statistical performances throughout the Summer League’s history.
The Best Summer League Performers in Chicago Bulls History
(Note: to be eligible for list, player must have played at least four games and is limited to one season each)
10. Coby White (2019)
While we all know that it took a bit for Coby White to develop into the player he is now, his potential flashed the moment he first suited up for the Bulls. Over five games, Coby averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He led the team in both points and assists per game, shooting 33.7% from the field. Coby had his best all-around performance in his third game. On 19 shots, Coby sank seven to score 25 points while also grabbing four rebounds and three assists.
9. Wendell Carter Jr. (2018)
Wendell Carter Jr. showed what kind of NBA player he was right off the bat, a consistent center dependable for defense and grabbing boards. In his first Summer League, he averaged 14.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game, and a whopping 2.6 blocks per game. Wendell’s rebounding ability was on full display during the Bulls’ final game, where he grabbed a whopping 16 rebounds.
8. Doug McDermott (2015)
There was a lot of hype in Chicago when college phenom Doug McDermott slid to the Bulls with the 11th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Although his NBA career did not live up to the excitement he allowed fans at Creighton, McDermott has remained a consistent role player across the league. McDermott shined in his second Summer League season, averaging 18.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and an assist per game. He scored his highest point total of the five-game Summer League in game four, where he scored 28 points to lead the Bulls to an 84-80 victory over the Raptors.
7. Bobby Portis (2016)
Bobby Portis is another case of the Bulls selecting a hyped college prospect who slid in the draft, a common occurrence in the GarPax era. Like McDermott, Portis played two seasons in the Summer League and performed his best in year two. He averaged 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Portis delivered his best performance in the Bulls’ final game. He recorded a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds in a nail-biting 84-82 win over the Timberwolves.
6. James Johnson (2009)
Dating back the farthest, James Johnson was the epitome of consistency in his first Summer League. Johnson averaged 16.6 points, seven rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 39.7% from the field. He came out of the gate swinging, dropping 21 points and grabbing eight boards in his Bulls debut.
5. DJ Steward (2024)
With the most recent performance on the list, DJ Steward made a name for himself last season on the Bulls Summer League roster. He averaged 17.4 points, three rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47%. In game four, Steward had a spectacular Summer League game with a 37-point performance. To wrap the day up, he also recorded an additional seven assists and three rebounds to help propel the Bulls to a 103-99 victory over the Hawks.
4. Tony Snell (2014)
Although Tony Snell was known as a defensive specialist during his time in the league, his first Summer League season displayed a glimpse of potential on the other side of the ball. Snell averaged 20 points, four rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game off 46.6% shooting. His best performance came in his debut, where he scored 27 points, sinking 10-for-14 shots to lead the Bulls to an 86-70 victory over the Clippers.
3. Antonio Blakeney (2018)
Antonio Blakeney‘s NBA career fizzled out after just two seasons, but his 2018 Summer League performance ranks as one of the team’s best. In Blakeney’s second year in the summer league, he averaged 21 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Additionally, he shot 40% from the field. Blakeney was an elite scorer that whole summer. His top performance came in game four, where he scored 28 points to lead the team to a 95-83 victory over the Mavericks.
2. Javon Freeman-Liberty (2023)
As an undrafted free agent, Javon Freeman-Liberty played with a chip on his shoulder during the 2023 summer. He averaged 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists over five games, shooting 49.3% from the field. Freeman-Liberty had his best performance in game three. He scored 28 points while shooting 9-for-17, and recorded an additional six assists and two steals. This effort led to Freeman-Liberty securing a two-way contract with the Raptors for the 2023-24 season.
1. Jimmy Butler (2012)
Taking the top spot on this list, the 2012 Summer League marked the beginning of Jimmy Butler‘s development as a scorer and efficient two-way player. In four games, Butler averaged 20.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and two assists per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. His best performance was in the Bulls’ first game that summer, where he scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds while sinking 10 free throws on 12 attempts.
Photo credit: © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
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