Julian Phillips’ Chicago Bulls appearances are rare, yet when given the chance, the 20-year-old rookie shows his worth and makes a great impression.
In their win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, Phillips stood out in mere minutes, soaring through the air for a powerful two-handed block. He then continued to impress the crowd at the United Center in Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors, sinking a 3-pointer and drawing a foul to secure his first points in the opening quarter.
While first impressions are significant, surviving the next two weeks before the All-Star break will require Phillips to take on a substantial role in the team.
Now playing without a power forward, with both Patrick Williams and Torrey Craig sidelined due to injuries, Coach Billy Donovan looks to Phillips and guard Alex Caruso to fill the void.
Relying on the consistency of a 20-year-old rookie may be challenging, but Phillips has demonstrated, in his first two games, the ability to step up in Williams’ absence, especially through providing energy.
Donovan acknowledged this by saying, “Young guys, they’re going to have their ups and downs. Sometimes for younger players, these situations create opportunities and I give him credit for keeping himself ready and giving us a really good boost off the bench. So I got a lot of confidence in him in terms of the way he has worked to prepare himself to go in there. I think his athleticism and his energy, if we get that into the game on a regular basis, that will be just as equally as important as making shots.”
Additionally, in Tuesday’s match, Phillips scored nine points and grabbed a rebound off the bench. Here are three other takeaways.
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Chicago Bulls forward Dalen Terry is helped off the floor after suffering an injury in the second half against the Toronto Raptors at the United Center on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
The Bulls suffered yet another injury blow in the final 30 seconds of the third quarter when Dalen Terry appeard to injure his right ankle.
Terry tore down the court to attempt a layup in transition but crashed into two Toronto players before tumbling awkwardly on top of several photographers on the sideline. Visibly in pain/,/ Terry attempted to stand up twice before collapsing to the ground to hold his ankle. He was carried to the locker room by training staff and did not put any more weight on his foot.
Donovan said after the game X-rays came back negative for Terry and his injury has been diagnosed as a sprain. He was using crutches in the locker room.