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NBA players. They are like us.
Asked after his Summer League debut in Las Vegas, his reaction to the Chicago Bulls’ active free agency spell in 2021 – which included the additions of DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso – second-year forward Patrick Williams lit up like a Christmas tree.
“I’m excited. I think the whole Chicago Bulls nation is excited,” he said with a smile, before quickly correcting the course to add, “I tried to focus on this team in the Summer League and not getting carried away by the people we get. But I’m really excited to get into training camp and work with these guys. “
Williams said he was looking forward to working with DeRozan in particular. While the deal has yet to be finalized, the Bulls and Spurs have reached a signing and trade deal that will send Thad Young, Al-Farouq Aminu and a 2025 first-round pick to San Antonio in exchange for the quadruple. All-Star.
Williams sees a lot in DeRozan’s game and in the NBA path that he wants to emulate.
“He’s a really good wing in this league. Most of all, I want to be where he is,” said Williams. “When he gets here (in Chicago) I’ll definitely ask him questions about how he plays in the middle of the post and what he sees after a big possession. I’m really excited to learn not only from him, but everyone too. “
Williams also mentioned continuing to learn from Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević. While neither share Williams’ position on the pitch, each has achieved star status by constantly improving and expanding their offensive arsenals.
DeRozan, meanwhile, excels in a number of areas that Williams has claimed to value in the past. The 32-year-old has become a dynamic and facilitating wing, averaging a career-high 6.9 assists in 2020-21 while swinging between small and powerful forwards. He’s also a sublime shot-maker, especially in the midrange, where Williams displayed a level of comfort early in his NBA career.
If, aside from helping the Bulls take a step forward as a team, DeRozan can help Williams develop, that will be the icing on the cake.
You can bet Williams won’t leave this stone unturned.
“Just ask questions and listen to the conversations he’s having, not only him but the rest of the guys,” Williams said. “Just learn from everyone.”
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