Norman Powell has accumulated a lot of knowledge in 11 seasons in the NBA that will make him a valuable leader in the young Bykov team, writes Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. Powell and recently acquired Buddy Hield are the only players on Chicago’s roster over 28, so there will be plenty of learning moments ahead.
“I’m really excited to be the head vet and help shape these guys” Powell said. “Not just leading by example, but talking to them, learning more about who they are individually, asking certain questions to find out where they’re at and what they want to get out of this season and what they want to get out of their careers.”
Lorenzi notes that Powell, signed as a free agent after spending last season in Miami, is more than a well-traveled veteran brought in to impart wisdom. He is entering his first All-Star season and is arguably the team’s best outside shooter. He’ll be on the court trying to finish games alongside the young players who represent the future of a rebuilding franchise.
“Norm has been in the league for almost half of my life” lottery selection Caleb Wilson said. “So I feel like if I’m going to learn to stay in the league and I want to do it. I have to ask him.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Matas Bouzelis said he will have “more freedom” this season, but declined to explain exactly what that means, per Joe Cawley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley claims Bouzelis often felt like he took too many 3-pointers last season, but the new coaching staff may be more willing to let him shoot from beyond the arc. “I like a good threesome” head coach Tiago Splitter – said about Bouzelis. “I think if he’s forcing threes, it’s not very good. I don’t think he can shoot from mid-range either. That’s not how I see it. Now sometimes mid-range is a bad shot for that particular game, but you have to be smart. I think he’s changing his mind a little bit. Just play basketball.”
- Bouzelis and Wilson have already formed a close bond, but that doesn’t limit their competitiveness when they face each other in scrimmages. Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune relay in the subscriber’s end. Bouzelis explained that they won’t get better if they just “mess around” and let each other kill. “He feels like my brother bro” added Bouzelis. “I don’t know. It’s like my twin. We’re very similar in the way we talk. I remember watching some of his interviews and it just reminded me of the way I spoke, the way I thought. He’s very confident. Sometimes you meet people and you just connect very easily.”
- Noah Esseng bounced back from a rough performance in Summer League and impressed Splitter in training camp, per Elias Schuster of SI. The sophomore big man showed up with a different attitude after being criticized for not being aggressive enough in Las Vegas. “After Summer League, I talked a lot with Tiago and (executive vice president of basketball Bryson Graham)” – said Eseng. “They just told me to just play my game, play free both offensively and defensively … I just have to step up my game.”