After allowing over 140 points in back-to-back losses over the weekend, Chicago visited the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, hoping to avenge the “disservice to the fanbase,” as Coby White described their previous two outings. Not only did the Bulls knock off the Pistons on the road, who were winners of three of their last four and were gaining momentum, but they made some history in the process. Going into the season, Billy Donovan emphasized their lack of three-point field goal attempts over the last several years and how the 2024-25 campaign would be different. Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic are all capable three-point threats, each one boasting at least one season in their respective careers of over 40% from beyond the arc. Through 15 games, the trio is shooting better than 42% from three-point land, and last night’s firework show might be their best formula for winning games.
Only The 8th Trio In NBA History To Do This
For the first time in franchise history and only the eighth time in NBA history, the Bulls had three players score 25 or more points while making five or more three-point field goals. Not only did the trio combine for 79 points on an efficient 29-for-51 from the field, they also combined for an absurd 18-of-32 from three-point land. Vucevic reached his career-best six three-point field goals for the fifth time, while LaVine added seven and White threw in five more while each sniping at a 50% clip or better.
The theme of this season has followed a similar structure: when this trio shoots the three-point ball well, Chicago is victorious; when the shots are not falling, the losses roll in. To Donovan’s credit, Chicago is third in three-point field goals attempted per game through 15 games, whereas the last several seasons, they’ve been in the bottom five. They’re also eighth leaguewide in three-point percentage, another number that is giving them a chance nightly in a three-point driven game.
Nikola Vucevic’s Under The Radar All-Star Season
Vucevic’s performance for the first portion of the season has been nothing short of remarkable. He is averaging the third most points for a season in his career, alongside ten rebounds per game and his personal best field goal and three-point percentages. While 59.4% from the field and 48.4% from three-point land are not sustainable numbers throughout an entire year, they’re extremely promising figures for whichever direction the Chicago Bulls opt to go. His stock is rising with each passing impressive performance; at an affordable contract and with a versatile skillset, there will surely be buyers at the trade deadline if Karnisovas and company decide to pull the trigger on a rebuild.
If Chicago has any representation at the 2024-25 All-Star game, it will be Nikola Vucevic at this rate. LaVine’s performances have been few and far between, White has yet to find his consistency, and DeMar DeRozan was shipped off this summer to Sacramento. Vucevic has easily been the best, most dependable, and most durable Chicago Bull so far. Can he sustain these numbers over an 82-game slate, or at least long enough for the Bulls to leverage a trade in February?
If this Bulls trio can continue their hot streak and find consistency on the offensive end, Chicago can continue to push upwards in a muddled Eastern Conference standings.
