A Chicago Bulls history of the NBA All-Star weekend

The Chicago Bulls need some more magic back at the NBA All-Star Game.

The Chicago Bulls saw an All-Star drought that lasted from the end of the dynasty in 1998 until 2009 but All-Stars eventually found their way back to Chicago.

Despite not having any All-Stars during the 2000s, a number of Bulls shined in the Rising Stars game. Notable performances include Elton Brand’s 16 points and 21 rebounds in 2000, Khalid El-Amin’s 18 points in 2001, Marcus Fizer’s 14 rebounds in 2002, and Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, and Luol Deng’s combined 40 points in 2006.

Derrick Rose ended Chicago’s All-Star drought in 2010, recording eight points, four assists, and three steals in 15 minutes off the bench. The previous year, Rose was invited to participate in the Skills Challenge in the midst of his rookie season, in which he defeated vets Devin Harris, Tony Parker, and Mo Williams. Rose remains the only Bull to win the Skills Challenge.

At the 2011 All-Star game, Rose received a starting spot and generated 11 points, five assists, and three rebounds in a losing effort.

In 2012, Rose led the voting for all Eastern Conference guards, receiving his second consecutive All-Star start. He scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting. Luol Deng joined Rose as a reserve in his first All-Star appearance.

Deng and Joakim Noah both received invitations to the 2013 All-Star game, where they combined for 18 points in 33 minutes off the bench. Noah added 10 rebounds in his All-Star debut.

The following season, Noah finished with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

Both Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol made the All-Star rosters for the Bulls in 2015 and 2016. Gasol started at center in 2015 and dropped a double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds).

Butler started his first All-Star game in 2017, but only managed six points, three rebounds, and two assists in 19 minutes.

Lauri Markkanen accumulated 15 points and six rebounds in the 2018 Rising Stars game and followed that up with another 21 points and six rebounds in 2019.

The next Bulls All-Star, Zach LaVine, amassed 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in his All-Star debut in 2021.

…which finally brings us to the present day. LaVine might not appear in his second consecutive All-Star game on Sunday due to injury, and his status for the Three-Point Shootout is also unknown, but the important takeaway is that LaVine earned his spot on the roster.

DeMar DeRozan is set to make the fifth All-Star game of his career. This will be his second time as a starter, and his first time representing the Chicago Bulls. Ayo Dosunmu will appear in the Rising Stars game for the Bulls.

It appears the Chicago Bulls franchise we know and love is in very good hands. You can catch DeRozan and (maybe) LaVine in the 2022 All-Star game on Sunday, Feb. 20. You can catch Ayo Dosunmu in the Rising Stars tournament on Friday, Feb. 18.