After being selected as the 22nd overall pick in the draft, Bobby Portis’ name drifted in the wind away from the media headlines. The main off-season addition by the Bulls was drafting rookie Bobby Portis from Arkansas. Not many people know about Portis, but the reigning SEC Player of the Year will have a fair shot for rotation minutes according to Fred Hoiberg.
“The way I’ve always operated is going into training camp with an open mind. That’s how it worked when I was a player, and I’ve always had the same thing as a coach. Guys will earn their minutes.” – Fred Hoiberg on Bobby Portis
That’s one thing Bulls fans aren’t used to. A rookie coming onto a team with a chance to play meaningful minutes despite the front-court already being overloaded. Hoiberg’s approach benefits the Bulls in two ways. First, Portis will be able to develop much faster if he’s put into games earlier into the season. Thibodeau was known to let his rookies rot on the bench until an injury on the team forced them to play. That won’t be the case for Portis, at least it won’t be if he proves himself worthy. Second, it’ll give the Bulls front-office more flexibility if they decide to deal Taj Gibson away to get a strong wing player. If Portis and Mirotic are able to hold down the fort, Taj Gibson becomes expendable which would benefit the team as they could trade away to fill in other gaping holes in the rotation.
“If I work as hard as I can day by day, I will progress and get the minutes I deserve. I’ve always been a guy who has outworked everyone. I will continue to do that because that’s what I’ve done to get to this position now, being that blue-collar guy, that glue guy who does all the hard things, whether it’s rebounding, diving on the floor or some of the small things.” – Bobby Portis
Portis is often compared to Kevin Garnett. Not only their playing style are similar, but the intensity they share is uncanny. Portis has said he molded his game after Garnett’s style, which is the main reason why he chose to wear the number five on the Bulls. There might not be a whole lot of athleticism in Bobby Portis, but there sure is a heck of a lot of passion and confidence.
The 6’11 forward from Arkansas averaged 17.4 points per game with 10.4 rebounds per game and 1.6 blocks per game for the Chicago Bulls summer league team. Portis also finished off the summer league with a 25 points and 15 rebounds performance against the Phoenix Suns.
The rookie will get a fair hand shake to start off the season, but it’s up to him to earn rotation minutes.
