The 2023 NBA draft was set to be a boring event for the Chicago Bulls. They didn’t have a pick heading into the night. However, they ended up trading into the second round in a deal with the Washington Wizards, landing the 35th pick.
With the selection, the Bulls picked Tennessee forward Julian Phillips. The 19-year-old has shown a great deal of potential on the defensive end of the floor and will be a great prospect for Chicago to develop. According to the rookie, he has previous connections to the Bulls via his dad, who was a Chicago fan.
In an interview with Lou Bezjak of The State, Phillips spoke about his history with the Bulls, noting his dad was a big fan of the Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen-led teams growing up.
“It is very special,” Phillips said of getting to play for the Bulls. “Actually, my father is from Chicago and grew up a Bulls fan so it is special to go play for a team like that with so much history, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and so on. I am very excited and very thankful.”
As Chicago prepares for the season ahead, it will need to add a mix of win-now talent and youth to the roster in an attempt to prepare for two timelines — a competitive immediate future and a potential long-term rebuild.
Phillips could fit both with his defensive skills. With the history he has with the team, he’s looking like a good fit already.
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