It has been a tough couple of weeks for Chicago sports fans dealing with the tragic ending to the Bears season. It really started to feel like we could have made a serious run to the Super Bowl; unfortunately, it ended up feeling like we got blue-balled worse than hitting the fever rounds on a slot machine and not winning any money off of it. However, now that football is over for the year, it is now time to focus all of our energy towards one goal: The Chicago Bulls tanking this season in the hopes of drafting Zion Williamson.
According to the latest Sports Illustrated 2019 Mock Draft 2.0, Zion is running away from the pack and becoming the clear favorite to be the #1 overall pick. As of today, his season averages at Duke are: 21.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.0 SPG, on 66.2% shooting. He has been electric this entire season, thus validating that he is worth every penny Duke is paying him.
Now I know people have different opinions about their team tanking, and I personally see both sides of the argument. But before I touch on that more, here are some reasons why I am all in on the Bulls tanking for this once in a generation talent.
He has been in the limelight since he was a sophomore in high school. Zion burst out onto the scene as a You Tube sensation, grabbing the attention of the entire country.
Imagine being those kids that had to guard him. One second you’re thinking about the after party, the next you got Zion’s manhood on your head and you are on a highlight tape for millions to see.
Zion has been in the spotlight for years and has grown accustomed to being the center of attention wherever he goes. This is a trait that should pay dividends when he is in the NBA. Players often struggle with the fame, fortune and with the lifestyle of being a star athlete with millions of dollars. When I think of how long he has been a household name, I can’t help but to put the Lebron comparison here. Like LeBron, he appears ready to be the guy. LeBron had to deal with the camera’s around him 24/7 at a young age, just like Zion.
His athletic build speaks for itself: 6 feet 8 inches tall, 280 lbs, runs like a gazelle and jumps out of the gym. People are starting to see that he is much more than just someone who can dunk.
Basketball notables such as Vince Carter have taken notice to his overall game and see the massive potential in him. You can put him pretty much anywhere in the lineup, showing almost as much versatility as the infamous player/owner/coach Jackie Moon. Quite frequently in the NBA, we see players get drafted a year out of college and their bodies and overall game are not developed yet (i.e Brandon Ingram, Joel Embiid.) Zion is a freak specimen, and his overall game, work ethic, and body should make the transition smooth as silk.
As for the Bulls, why should they cave? Because this season is already a dumpster fire: Gar/Pax displaying their incompetency (nothing new), Fred Hoiberg getting fired, players threatening to not play due to “over-practicing”, nothing seems to be going according to plan this season. However, our core to the team, in my opinion, is pretty solid. Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Wendell Carter Jr. is a group of four that shows promise. You add Zion to that group, have a solid coach leading them and maybe then we get something rolling.
I essentially want a repeat of the Pacers game a few weeks back — those guys playing great, playing hard until the end, but ultimately come up short. Is that too much to ask for?
Let’s really start hammering this campaign hard people, let’s get the Chicago Bulls back on the map.
#TankForZion #TankForZion #TankForZion
