In an interview today with 670 The Score, the Chicago-based sports radio station, the Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, answered several questions about the upcoming season. This included naming a starting point guard for the 2023-24 campaign after signing Jevon Carter, resigning Coby White, and bringing back Ayo Dosunmu. Many wondered who would occupy the starting position after Carter’s signing, seeing that he’s only started 48 games in his five-year career. White has started 74 games in his young career, although only 19 have come in the last two seasons. To the surprise of many, Dosunmu has boasted the most career starts of the three, with 91 across his first two seasons. Who has Karnisovas named the starting point guard, and what can fans expect from the Chicago Bulls this year?
Training Camp Competition
A year after failing to find a solid and consistent starting point guard, it would seem the Bulls are going on the same roller coaster ride in 2023. Since Lonzo Ball’s injury in January of 2022 that has yet to see him return to action, Chicago has had a gaping hole at the position. They’ve tried several suitors, including White, Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, Patrick Beverley, and possibly Carter. From the looks of it, training camp performance will ultimately determine the day-one starter when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 25th.
Taking an educated guess, Coby White will return to the bench this season. He was the Bulls’ sixth man a year ago and flourished in that role, averaging a career-best 44.3% from the field and a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. His ball-handling skills had clearly leaped from the previous campaigns, and his speed in transition and three-point shooting abilities proved valuable in closing lineups for Chicago. His lack in the size and defensive departments also nods toward the bench as Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan already suffer in that department for their positions.
Who’s Coming Out On Top?
Jevon Carter will presumably be the Bulls’ starting point guard this season. Acquiring a defensive menace who can distribute, take care of the ball, and knock down three-point shots at a 42.1% clip is precisely what Ball brought to this lineup two seasons ago. That rate would lead the team, and his 4.2 attempts per game last season off of Milwaukee’s bench would be in the top three for Chicago.
Dosunmu would be the other option, but there’s too much to be desired with the 23-year-old out of Illinois. His length and speed would be ideal in the starting role, but the lack of decision-making, three-point consistency, and defending prowess will likely prevent it from being a reality. He’ll likely join White off the bench as a wing defender and spot-up shooter. In his first two seasons, he has started over half of the games he’s appeared in, and Karnisovas noted that he’s had a very good summer of progress. He’s Carter’s clear dark horse option for being the opening-day starting point guard.
Who does Bulls nation want to see manning the starting point guard position, and can it bring back the success of the last complete guard to fill the role? Before Ball went down in the 2021-22 season, Chicago was atop the Eastern Conference and had a leading MVP candidate.
