How Dalen Terry is patiently waiting for his opportunity with the Chicago Bulls

Dalen Terry has been working hard with the G-League Windy City Bulls, and he's trying to stay focused on finding a path to minutes with the Chicago Bulls.

First-round draft picks, especially those selected 18th, aren't supposed to ride the pine often. However, as the world has seen with Dalen Terry, it's not always that simple. Terry was drafted 18th overall in the 2022 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and has only played in 11 of the team's 27 games this season. While many people would be frustrated or angry, the 20-year-old Arizona native remains patient and optimistic about taking advantage of his opportunity when it finally comes.

Going through the process

The Association can be tough on young players such as Terry, and he knows it. He's learning lessons on the fly and adjusting to the NBA lifestyle. One such lesson that he'd gladly share with young players joining the NBA next season is this:

"If you're not a top-10 pick, then you've got to go through it," Terry said in an interview with The Athletic. "And that's what I would tell the next kid that's in my position next year or the year after that. This is stuff that they don't tell you when you get drafted."

Actual NBA games have come few and far between for Terry, but he spends plenty of time in the G League, playing for the Windy City Bulls, where he is averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 3.8 turnovers.

Not yet ready

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan was blunt in saying that Terry is just not yet ready to crack the rotation—one with veterans Goran Dragic and Alex Caruso and young guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. While Terry has attributes that can help the Bulls—athleticism, defensive versatility, playmaking, and size—his inexperience still holds him back. Donovan is confident that Terry will get better as he gets more chances to make mistakes and learn on the fly.

"If you're throwing him in the rotation, you're having to sit somebody else," Donovan said. "And right now, clearly, I don't think he's at the level of some of our guys. Not to say that he can't get there at some point. But probably right now as a younger player, as he continues to learn and grow, I think there's got to be a really good balance organizationally that we do between G-League games, practices with us, and if he does get an opportunity to get in there, to play."