© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Can a Chicago Bull win an individual award at the end of the season?
The Chicago Bulls have not had much team success this season. They’ve reached the .500 mark only once (2-2) and rank ninth in the Eastern Conference. However, this doesn’t mean Chicago has not had brilliant individual performers who merit end-of-season awards.
Clutch Player of the Year
One Bull who may win an award this season is 15-year vet DeMar DeRozan. After falling short of the Clutch Player of the Year award last year, which went to Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox, DeRozan is vying for the prestigious award this season. However, he has tough competition in Golden State Warriors’ superstar, Steph Curry, who leads the league in total clutch points.
However, Deebo has several things going for him.
“DeRozan was shooting better from the field (51.6% to Curry’s 50%) and also was surprisingly better from three-point range (50% to 46.7%). And outside of assists and rebounds, he especially separated in plus/minus, with a plus-77 to Curry’s plus-3,” Joe Cowley wrote.
Most Improved Player
Coby White’s ascendance has been a considerable reason why the Bulls have managed to stay afloat despite the season-ending injuries of Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams. With averages of 19.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game, the former Tar Heel has exceeded all expectations in his fifth year in the NBA.
However, despite his gaudy performances, those may not be enough to lift him past a couple of All-Stars.
“He should be a finalist for the Most Improved Player Award, but it’ll be tough for him to beat out 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Rockets center Alperen Sengun,” Cowley said.
“Although White’s scoring increase has been better than Maxey’s and Haliburton’s, they both have more name power and are on teams with better records.”
