In the opening minute of the second quarter of the Bulls’ 107-99 summer league victory over Sacramento, Julian Phillips delivered.
Before he finished with 16 impressive points Tuesday night, the 35th pick in this year’s draft turned in two plays that popped and, for the first time, made his presence felt.
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On the Bulls’ opening defensive possession of the quarter, Phillips tracked a shot’s flight before turning to locate his man and lock onto his body for a textbook box out. The 19-year-old got pushed under the rim a bit, which showed his admitted need to get stronger. But he held firm. He recovered enough to take flight, using his leaping ability and wingspan to gobble a rebound and close out a strong defensive possession.
Seconds later at the other end, Phillips produced second-chance points. He zipped into the lane from the left baseline when teammate Jontay Porter launched a 3 from the opposite corner. Phillips slithered between three Kings to pull down the offensive rebound before powering in a hanging, reverse layup between four defenders.
And just like that, after his underwhelming summer league debut, we saw the first flashes of Phillips’ athleticism and how he might someday contribute in Chicago.
“He’s going to get stronger,” Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas told the ESPN2 broadcast midway through the contest. “You can see the physicality is obviously new for him. But he has to impact the game with his motor. We saw him get an offensive rebound, a putback. That’s how he’s going to impact the game.”
After coming off the bench Saturday, Phillips got the start against Sacramento with forward Justin Lewis sidelined due to a left ankle injury suffered in the team’s second game. Phillips played 22 minutes and made 6-of-8 shots, including an unexpected 3-for-3 on 3-pointers.
Because he made only 11-of-46 3-pointers (23.9 percent) during his lone college season, Phillips is entering the NBA with his perimeter shot as his biggest question. But he showcased a reliable and repeatable 3-point stroke Tuesday.
On his first 3-point make, Phillips unveiled a gorgeous catch-and-shoot 3 from the right wing, hoisted with almost textbook mechanics. He knocked down another from the right wing, on the opposite end of the floor, off a feed from Nate Darling. His final make was another controlled catch-and-shoot triple from the right corner off a drive-and-kick from Javon Freeman-Liberty midway through the fourth quarter.
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Phillips had a chance to show off his 43-inch vertical and flush an alley-oop dunk in transition from a Dalen Terry toss, but he botched the finish. Moments later, however, Phillips made up for it. He pulled down another offensive rebound on a missed 3 by Terry from the left corner. Phillips read the play from the left wing, snuck in to snatch the rebound, pounded one dribble and exploded for a forceful two-handed dunk that brought the entire Bulls bench to its feet.
Phillips’ performance was worthy of a standing ovation.
Julian with the HUSTLE 🙌@ju1ianphillips | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/cK1dWLxi1Y
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 12, 2023
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Terry and Freeman-Liberty forming strong tandem
Freeman-Liberty continued a sensational summer league with a game-high 28 points, six assists, two steals and zero turnovers in 31 minutes. He made 9-of-17 shots, 3-of-7 3-pointers and went 7-for-7 from the foul line.
But it was the way he closed the game, once again working in tandem with Terry throughout, that jumped out.
Freeman-Liberty played the entire fourth quarter, along with Terry, and slammed the door on Sacramento with a fantastic all-around effort. In the final period, he produced seven points, three assists, one steal and one block. He supplied a momentum-shifting hustle play midway through the quarter.
Jontay with the poster! 😤@JontayPorter | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/t1ydRuzR5c
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 12, 2023
Freeman-Liberty stripped a Kings ball-handler and dove on the floor to steal possession. From his backside, he found a streaking Terry, who led the break and dished to Jontay Porter for a dunk.
Freeman-Liberty then buried a corner 3, nailed a floater and rejected a shot by Kings guard Jordan Ford, who scored a team-high 25 points.
The backcourt partnership and connectivity between Freeman-Liberty and Terry throughout the first three games has developed into a major strength for the Bulls. The two have worked extremely well together offensively and defensively, with both serving as primary ball-handlers and initiators.
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Terry, who scored only four points on 2-for-7 shooting Tuesday, has found Freeman-Liberty on several occasions in summer league spotting up for 3s off drive-and-kicks. On one first-half possession, Terry corralled a defensive rebound and weaved a beautiful, left-handed pass three-quarters up the court to Freeman-Liberty in transition. Freeman-Liberty skied for a poster dunk attempt, but was fouled and couldn’t finish.
Just before halftime, Freeman-Liberty returned the favor. He picked off a crosscourt pass, pushed hard in transition to draw heavy attention before whipping a pass to a wide-open Terry for a layup.
Javon turning defense into offense 🤩@JavonFreemanLib | @DalenTerry pic.twitter.com/70nzHW5Q0n
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 12, 2023
Freeman-Liberty has shown enough to entice the Bulls to want to keep him in their program with G League club Windy City, if not signing him to a contract. If he returns to Windy City, he could form an exciting backcourt whenever Terry is on assignment.
“That’s my guy,” Freeman-Liberty said of Terry. “That’s been my guy since pre-draft last year. The first time I met him was at OKC. After that, we just locked in. We’ve just been cool ever since then.”
Sanogo standing out
The Bulls announced Monday that Adama Sanogo was signed to a two-way contract.
One night later, the former Connecticut center crafted a performance that revealed what Chicago sees in the undrafted 6-foot-9 center.
Sanogo scored 15 points with nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 22 minutes. He made 7-of-10 shots and provided ample energy and effort while excelling as a clean-up man. He even drew a charge.
The night showed Sanogo to be an intriguing complementary piece, as well as a big man with a skill set that translates to the next level. Sanogo corralled five offensive rebounds and feasted on putback opportunities, showing continued activity around the rim and how effective he can be simply from being in the right spots. But it helps that he reads the game well and plays hard.
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On one second-half possession, Sanogo ran a dribble-handoff with Darling and rolled hard to the basket. When Darling released a 3, Sanogo beat Kings center Jake Stephens with a swim move, snagged an offensive rebound between Stephens and Kings forward Kessler Edwards and beat them with a quick finish. Those are the hustle plays he seemingly doesn’t grow tired of supplying.
But he offers more. Sanogo has impressed with his patience, footwork and touch in the post.
The big fella is going to work in the post 💪 pic.twitter.com/8kQS7oisyn
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) July 12, 2023
He’s flaunting finishing ability with both hands, savvy as a passer from the low post and high post and accuracy as a midrange shooter. Over time, Sanogo said, he will extend his range.
Sanogo’s awareness in pick-and-roll defense needs work. He had one glaring mix-up with Darling in the high pick-and-roll that resulted in an easy Kings score in the first half and has had some hiccups through the first three games. How well he’s able to learn to slide his feet and limit dribble penetration will factor into how much he’ll be able to see the floor in the NBA. And he knows it.
“Be able to switch 1 through 5,” Sanogo said, citing his defense when asked what he must improve. “That’s one thing. I’ve got to be able to work on that a little bit.”
But you can see a role for someone who works as hard around the rim and does as much as Sanogo does at both ends.
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(Photo: Elsa / Getty Images)
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