Chicago Bulls: Marko Simonović and Tony Bradley will play key roles this season

Chicago Bulls roles for Simonovic and Bradley: 2. Seek veteran advice

Through his first four seasons in the NBA, Tony Bradley has appeared in a total of 112 games. Marko Simonović continued playing overseas after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2020; this season will be his first as an active member of the team. Neither player has had the number of repetitions it takes to fully grasp the magnitude of their role or gain the knowledge of how they can best help the team.

Fortunately, the organization is full of experienced players and coaches who can help the young guys become the best versions of themselves. Head Coach Billy Donovan has been involved in high-level basketball since he was a point guard at Providence College in the late ’80s. He has forgotten more basketball than most people know. As a two-time National Championship coach at the University of Florida, Donovan carved out a reputation for being great at getting the best out of young talent. If Simonović and Bradley follow his lead, they’ll become better players and the Bulls will be better for it.

In addition to having an experienced head coach, Simonović and Bradley also have the luxury of playing behind Nikola Vučević, one of the best centers in the league. He’s a player who is equally as comfortable with the ball in the low post, playing with his back to the basket, as he is standing at the 3-point line and shooting from beyond the arc. While the two young backup centers are a long way away from being able to impact the game the way Vučević can, going head to head against him every day in practice will only help them to get better.