The Chicago Bulls made their goals for this season abundantly clear on media day. Top down, from management and coaching to the players, everyone emphasized the need for greater physicality and a better defense.
Of course, this will have to be a team effort, but one of the most important players in establishing this culture change is the aging Nikola Vucevic.
Nikola Vucevic is the Bulls defense’s backline
Vucevic has never been the most physical or imposing defender during his five seasons in Chicago. However, he has occasionally been a part of solid defensive units, usually highlighted by lockdown perimeter stoppers such as Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. This season, the Bulls’ desire to increase their overall physicality places more defensive responsibility squarely on Vooch’s shoulders.
The Bulls are making changes to improve their defense from last season. They brought in veteran help in the form of proven defenders, and young players — especially Matas Buzelis — have also been focusing on improving their defense. Hopefully, these differences make Vucevic’s defensive job easier and put him in a position to succeed.
Vucevic lacks the foot speed and agility to reliably switch out onto the perimeter or hedge much in defensive coverage. Instead, the team typically opts to put him in drop coverage so that he can be in position to protect the rim. Being intentional about his physicality while banging with centers on the inside and locking down the rim will have a profound effect on the entire team’s defensive identity.
When asked how he would make these changes to his game, Vucevic responded that it’s mainly a mentality shift rather than specific drills or technique. This response is somewhat alarming from someone who has never consistently shown the capabilities that the Bulls need from him now. After all, if it’s just flipping a simple mental switch, why hasn’t he done it for the last five years?
But hopefully the team’s energy around defense can be infectious and inspire Vucevic to increase his effort and performance, regardless of what he’s doing outside the games to improve. If not, he might find his role diminished as some reporters alluded to on media day.
Vucevic has all the skills and execution needed to be a great veteran for the Bulls on offense. As he enters the last season of his contract, he must be aware that his best shot at getting another NBA payday will come by being the best team player possible. On this developing team, that will involve not only making his younger teammates’ lives easier on offense, but also doing more to anchor a physical defense than he’s ever shown the Bulls before.
