Chicago Bulls: 5 most surprising quotes from 2019 Media Day
“I only had 3 or 4 practices with him (Thad Young) but I felt that leadership he already brings to the team. Guys will listen to him.”
– Tomas Satoransky
This is big news. It might seem like something small, but this is big news. Think back to golden years, where Chicago was led by Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng while boasting one of the best teams in the entire NBA from 2010 to 2015. What defined those Bulls? An intense internal culture where teammates held each other accountable and nobody was afraid to lay it all on the line to help the team win.
Now, let’s consider the outlook of this current roster. The oldest player returning from last year’s roster is Cristiano Felicio, at 27-years-old. Is he going to be the player that sets the bar for a winning culture here in Chicago? Can a bunch of young men just a few years removed from being teenagers be expected to win a championship when they’ve known nothing but losing and high lottery picks?
No, they can’t. Which is why it’s incredibly important Thaddeus Young sets a new standard for this team. In the most recent episode of the Bulls’ Run With Us video series, Young made it explicitly clear he knows his role moving forward with the franchise.
“Biggest thing for me is, like I said, is just coming in and helping reshape the culture,” Young said, “It’s not just about me going out there and scoring, it’s about me coming in here with a lot of leadership… Helping show the young guys this is how we’re going to win games.”
Plenty of teams have accumulated exciting young cores after years of tanking. But players like Young are what’s necessary to deliver upon their promise and separate the Bulls from the pack of similar teams like the Hawks, Suns and Pelicans.
Young has earned a reputation in the league for being a dependable leader and someone who gets the best out of his teammates. His contributions played a large part in helping franchises like the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets emerge back into relevance.
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We’re now left hoping history repeats itself and Young has that same impact with Chicago’s young core.