Chicago Bulls: Denzel Valentine is ready for starting role

By James D. Tillman III | Nov 10, 2017

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 26: Denzel Valentine #45 of the Chicago Bulls as John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks gets a hand in his face at the United Center on October 26, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Hawks 91-86. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Chicago Bulls forward Denzel Valentine had an up-and-down rookie season, but this has not been the case so far in Year 2.

Chicago Bulls wing Denzel Valentine was considered one of the most versatile players at his position going into the 2016 NBA Draft, and rightfully so. During his senior season at Michigan State University, his averages included 19.2 points, 7.8 assists and 7.5 rebounds per contest on 48 percent shooting overall and 44 percent from 3-point range.

Talk about being a triple threat.

In addition to that, Valentine increased both his scoring average and long range shooting efficiency during each year of his collegiate career. Based on those trends, it is easy to understand why the Bulls were more than happy to take him at the No. 14 spot.

Unfortunately, Valentine didn’t have the kind of rookie season he and the Bulls had hoped for. Thanks to multiple ankle injuries he sustained, Valentine played in just 57 games, compiling averages of 5.1 points 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per outing.

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Furthermore, playing behind the likes of Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler reduced his role to being more of a spot-up shooter compared to the do-it-all player he became during his final collegiate season. On the heels of an up-and-down rookie campaign, though, things have gone much differently for Valentine in Year 2, and this was evident even before the season started.

During the Bulls’ six-game preseason slate, Valentine averaged 11.0 points per game on 50 percent shooting overall and 49 percent from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Paul Zipser, averaged 6.6 points per game on shooting splits of .393/.353/.625.

Keeping those numbers in mind, it was a surprise Valentine was not awarded a spot in the starting lineup. Sure, it was only the preseason and teams don’t always play with the same kind of intensity as they do once the games actually count.

But if you thought his performance during that six-game stretch was an anomaly, your thinking would be incorrect. Through the team’s first nine games, Valentine has reached double figures six times and is averaging 10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists per outing. This production compares favorably to Zipsers’ averages of 5.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Additionally, as far as long range shooting is concerned, Valentine is currently shooting the ball at a 40 percent clip from distance, while Zipser has converted just 28 percent of his attempts from 3-point range.

In other words, Valentine is building a case to be inserted into the starting lineup.

"“Obviously, I want to be a starter. Who doesn’t?” Valentine told the Chicago Tribune. “I started one game and thought I did pretty well. They make their decisions. We have to roll with it."

The one start Valentine is referring to occurred on Oct. 26. In that contest, Valentine finished the evening with 11 points to go along with nine rebounds and five assists. It is performances such as this one that proves Valentine can be just as effective as a starter as he has been coming off the bench.

Fred Hoiberg justified his decision to keep Valentine on the bench, stating that he wants speed with the starting group and shooting with the second unit.

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However, if Valentine continues to play at a high level, conventional wisdom says Hoiberg may have to rethink his strategy at some point.

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