Buzelis, Phillips put on a show in Bulls win over Bucks |
LAS VEGAS — Although the NBA Summer League may not mean much to the casual fan, it is actually a very important part of a young player's development. Unlike seasons of the past, when the Bulls played a lot of rookies or younger players, this year's roster has a nice blend of talented young pieces expected to make an impact this season, mixed with a lot of older players battling for a G-League spot.
If the Chicago Bulls Summer League opener is a sign of things to come when it comes to their young players, their future is going to be bright. The Bulls kicked off their summer with an impressive 96-89 win over the Bucks. After having his rookie season cut short due to a foot injury last year, Julian Phillips is looking to turn the corner, as he started to show plenty of potential during the season. Phillips was one of three players to lead the Bulls with 17 points, but he also added 10 rebounds, which will be a surprising element to his game this season. Second-year C Adama Sanogo not only showed plenty of potential in the G-League last season but is also back on a brand new two-way deal. Known as a walking double-double when you look at his G-League numbers last season, Sanago saw time in the NBA toward the end of the year and posted a 20-20 night in the process. He picked up right where he left off, dropping 17 points while also hauling down 12 rebounds. He will once again be a massive contributor this season. Chicago also received 17 points from Javonte Smart off the bench, as those three had the hot hand from start to finish. Despite those players stealing the spotlight, all eyes were on the Bulls first-round pick Matas Buzelis, who made quite a first impression. Whether it was his scoring potential, passing ability, or just being able to be a great two-way player, Buzelis couldn't have asked for a better debut as he dropped 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds. DJ Steward rounded out the Bulls double-digit scorers with 10 points as those were the ones that made the Bulls tick. Leading the way for the Bucks should come as no surprise as the youngster MarJon Beauchamp had a great night. Entering his third season in the NBA, Beauchamp is going to play a massive role for the Bucks this season, and with 22 points, he got off to a great start. Beauchamp wasn't alone in having a solid game, as the Bucks also had a plethora of players who grabbed double-figure games to keep things competitive most of the night. AJ Johnson added 13 points as part of the starting lineup, with Chris Livingston picking up 11. Livingston also displayed another part of his game that was on full display a ton last season, hauling in eight rebounds for a near double-double as those three guys paced the Bucks' starting five. Milwaukee also benefited from a pair of strong showings off the bench, which played a role in keeping this game close most of the night. Tyler Smith chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds, with Ryan Rollins adding 11 points to lead the Bucks. Chicago will look to start their Summer League 2-0 on Sunday when they face off against the Golden State Warriors. Look for Phillips and Buzelis to continue playing a lot of minutes early on, but that could change as the Summer moves along.
