Chicago Bulls: 5 Early Takeaways From Training Camp

Portis eager to contribute

With a loaded front court that includes Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic, the Bulls raised a few eyebrows when they selected Bobby Portis in this year’s draft. But despite the talent level of the players that are ahead of him in the rotation, Portis is determined to consistently bring an edge to the court, as reported by Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley:

"“All the time,’’ Portis said, when asked about taking the court with an edge. “I’ve been having this since I was a kid. One of the first things that one of my coaches taught me to do was just play hard. That’s a big trait any player can have. You play hard, the coaches like that. That’s something that always stuck with me and will continue to stick with me, because if you play hard, good things happen.’’"

During his two seasons at the University of Arkansas, Portis averaged 15.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest while converting 53 percent of his shot attempts. And during the six-game Summer League Tournament, Portis continued his solid play with 14.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest while shooting a respectable 42 percent from beyond the arc.

In other words, Portis has been a model of consistency so far. And although he compares himself to Kevin Garnett in regards to his on-court demeanor, Portis stated that his game will more than likely resemble Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson.

If that holds true, Bulls fans can expect to see Portis on the floor at some point during the season.

Next: Don't Write Joakim Noah Off Just Yet