Chicago Bulls: Ryan Arcidiacono is quietly ascending

Amidst a tough season for the Chicago Bulls, point guard Ryan Arcidiacono has quietly improved and has become a lock for the future.

It hasn’t always been easy for Ryan Arcidiacono, but this season, the Chicago Bulls are finding out what a winner looks like.

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Arcidiacono came into the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2016, after playing four years with the Villanova Wildcats. Finishing four seasons at a school like Villanova, where they had been known for winning while he was there, Arcidiacono knew what kind of culture he could bring to an NBA franchise.

All he needed was that chance.

Originally, the San Antonio Spurs took a shot on him and signed him to their Summer League roster for the 2016 campaign. Arcidiacono then played for the Austin Spurs in the developmental league for the 2016-2017 season.

Last summer, the Bulls signed him to a two-way contract and he impressed them enough to where he earned an NBA deal this year.

Through some unfortunate circumstances, Arcidiacono has played a whole lot more than folks originally thought this season. Kris Dunn has been hurt, which launched Cameron Payne into the starting lineup. Following some poor outings by Payne, head coach Fred Hoiberg decided to roll with Arcidiacono going forward.

Boy, he has not disappointed.

On a roster that is so stripped of talent right now, Arcidiacono has thrived. Let’s be honest, this team is missing quite a bit in guys like Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, Denzel Valentine, as well as Dunn.

Over his last 10 outings, though, Arcidiacono has impressed overall. He’s averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting over 46 percent from the field.

In just his last two games, Arcidiacono has set and matched a career-high in points with 22 in each outing. Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, though, was probably his most impressive game as a pro thus far.

In a close loss to Milwaukee, Arcidiacono scored 22 points while grabbing five rebounds, dishing out four assists and notching five steals. He also went 5-for-9 from downtown.

On the season, Arcidiacono has not only been great at running the point (5.3 assists per 36 minutes) but he has been a valuable shooter — almost reminiscent of a certain Kirk Hinrich. Through 20 games, Arcidiacono is shooting a blistering 44.3 percent from three-point range and has sunk multiple threes in 11 games this year — six of those games, he’s hit at least three.

It is fair to say that, in a pretty miserable season for the Bulls, Arcidiacono has been one of the biggest bright spots and looks to be a key cog in this franchise for the future. Of course, it’s been the Zach LaVine show to this point. But, getting both Markkanen and Portis back should do even more for a guy like Arcidiacono, who is a tough-nosed, unselfish type of facilitator on offense.

Fans should obviously temper their expectations for this team this year (as if they hadn’t been already), but Arcidiacono looks like he will only get better and could be a big reason to feel hopeful for seasons to come.