MY BUDDY MATT MUSICO — great dude, great writer — dropped an ebook, and it’s fantastic, and because he’s great dude and a great writer, I’m celebrating the release with a couple of excerpts.

It’s titled The Power Kings: Every MLB Franchise’s Greatest Home Run Seasons & All-Time Sluggers, and it dovetails perfectly with his must-subscribe Substack, MLB Daily Dingers.

Read the sample, then get the book, then thank me for the recommendation.

Chicago Cubs All-Time HR Leaders

Sammy Sosa: 545 Home Runs

Honestly, what is left to say about Sammy Sosa on these interweb pages? He’s hit the ninth-most home runs all time. He’s all over the single season home run leaderboard. And obviously, he’s Chicago’s all-time leader. I suppose we can try one more time.

The obvious highlight of his tenure with the Cubs happened between 1998 and 2001. That’s when he registered four straight 50-homer seasons, with three of them including at least 60 bombs. He spent 13 years with Chicago, yet nearly half of his total homers for the franchise came in four years.

While he lost out on winning his second MVP Award because of Barry Bonds’ ridiculous campaign, 2001 was Sosa’s best. His 9.9 fWAR and 186 wRC+ were both career-best marks. He added another 64 homers and a league-leading 160 RBI, which also included an inside-the-park home run.

Ernie Banks: 512 Home Runs

The only thing that would’ve made Ernie Banks’ Hall of Fame career better is if Mr. Cub had a chance to perform in the postseason. That unfortunately never happened for the longtime shortstop. He did make the most of his opportunities during the regular season, though.

His career lasted 19 years, all of which came in the National League with the Cubs. If we’re looking for Banks’ power peak, it came between 1957 and 1960. In his late 20s, he slugged at least 40 homers in four straight years and led the league in that category twice. He also led the league in RBI twice, won a Gold Glove, and took home two MVP Awards during this time. Moreover, Banks’ 1958 season is still the best single-season home run performance by a shortstop in Cubs history.

That’d be a nice career for anyone else, but for Banks, it was just a nice stretch during what ended up being a spectacular career.

Billy Williams: 392 Home Runs

Another Hall of Famer, Billy Williams won Rookie of the Year honors in 1961, but he never took home an MVP or a home run title. He only enjoyed one season with more than 40 homers. That came in 1970 when he slugged 42 and drove in 129 runs while placing second in MVP voting to Johnny Bench. What he did do, though, was consistently hit dingers from his first full year to his last.

Williams debuted in 1959 but combined to appear in just 30 games over his first two big-league seasons. That’s why he didn’t exceed his rookie status until 1961. From that point until his final season in 1976 with the Oakland Athletics, he never finished a year with fewer than 11 homers. He had 14 years with at least 20 dingers, and 13 of those occasions came consecutively from 1961-73.

As a member of the Cubs, Williams posted eight seasons with at least 4.0 fWAR, but 1963-65 was the only time he did it in three straight years (5.9, 4.9, and 7.1).

Ron Santo: 337 Home Runs

Ron Santo was one of those dudes who could help you out on both sides of the ball. Not only did he post a career 126 wRC+ and .826 OPS with 342 home runs, but the Hall of Famer also won five Gold Gloves at third base. He was another consistent home run hitter after slugging nine over his first 95 games as a rookie in 1960.

From 1961 to 1973 (his second-to-last season), Santo hit fewer than 20 homers twice -- 17 in both 1962 and 1972. During his nine-year streak with 20-plus homers included a four-year run with 30-plus from 1964-67. Santo won four of his Gold Gloves during this time while slashing .302/.395/.531 and averaging 31 homers, 27 doubles, 102 RBI, and 96 runs scored.

Ryne Sandberg: 282 Home Runs

Outside of 13 games and six plate appearances as a rookie, Ryne Sandberg spent the duration of his 16-year Hall of Fame career with the Cubs. He racked up quite a bit of hardware along the way while mostly manning second base, too. He’s the proud owner of an MVP Award, nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger Awards, 10 All-Star appearances, and a Home Run Derby title.

However, he posted just two seasons with at least 30 home runs, which just so happened to come in consecutive years. He hit 30 in 1989 before leading the league with 40 the following year. That 1990 season was notable because it was also the first time Sandberg collected 100 RBI in a season. He did that twice, also in consecutive seasons (in 1990 and 1991). The infielder hit the century mark exactly on both occasions.

Sandberg’s 1989 season began one more run of truly top-tier production for Chicago. It was his first of four straight 5.0 fWAR seasons, with the last three all being above 6.0. This stretch accounted for 25.8 of his career 60.9 fWAR.

Anthony Rizzo: 242 Home Runs

First baseman Anthony Rizzo debuted in 2011 with the San Diego Padres and appeared in 49 games. But thanks to what happened next, he’ll always be remembered as a Cub. He spent 10 years on the North Side and put together a very consistent run of production. He was named to three All-Star Games and won four Gold Gloves to go along with one Silver Slugger Award. Rizzo also had five top-20 finishes in NL MVP Award voting. His best finish came in consecutive years when he placed fourth in both 2015 and 2016. Oh, and then there’s that whole breaking a 108-year World Series drought in 2016 by helping Chicago win the Fall Classic.

I enjoy looking at Rizzo’s power production from 2014-18 to pinpoint just how consistent he was. He averaged 30 homers and 100 RBI per season during this stretch. The left-handed slugger posted 32 homers in ‘14, ‘16, and ‘17, and just missed doing it four years in a row because he hit 31 in 2015. Heck, he even slugged 32 homers with 109 RBI in consecutive seasons from 2016-17. His OPS didn’t change a whole bunch during this time, either. It never dipped below .846 or finished higher than .928.

Chicago Cubs

Single-Season HR Leaders

Sammy Sosa

Sosa is the only player in baseball history with three seasons of 60-plus homers. This five-year stretch must be one of the most dominant ever. He is the Chicago Cubs’ all-time home run leader, and a little more than half of them came during this time. For a quick recap, here are the performances that made it onto the Cubs’ single-season leaderboard:

1. 66 home runs in 1998

2. 63 home runs in 1999

3. 50 home runs in 2000

4. 64 home runs in 2001

5. 49 home runs in 2002

Just for some context, here is what Sosa averaged in offensive production during this period: .306/.397/.649 with 58 home runs, 141 RBI, and 124 runs scored. He averaged that! Just an insane peak. And yes, I know about the PED stuff, but still, this is hard to do. Sosa didn’t lead the league in homers during any of his 60-homer campaigns thanks to Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. However, he did lead the league in this category in 2000 and 2002. Baseball, man.

Let’s look at his 2000 season for a moment. In addition to adding his name to the list of MLB’s Home Run Derby winners, he also won a Silver Slugger Award while slashing .320/.406/.634 with those 50 dingers and 138 RBI. Sosa was already on his way to another solid year heading into the All-Star break. The slugger had compiled 23 homers to that point. He hit another gear in the second half, though, hitting 27 dingers in 83 fewer plate appearances. That led to a second-half slugging percentage of .711.

As if all this wasn’t enough already, he’s also beaten out some big names to hit the most home runs all-time as a right fielder.

Hack Wilson: 56 Home Runs in 1930

The only hitter in Cubs history to slug at least 50 homers in a season who isn’t named Sammy Sosa is Hack Wilson. If you want to talk about a monster season, his 1930 campaign is certainly it. In 709 plate appearances, Wilson slashed .356/.454/.723 with those 56 home runs, 191 (!) RBI, 35 doubles, and 146 runs scored. This is also a franchise record for center fielders.

It was the fifth straight season he had slugged at least 20 homers and the second-to-last time he did it overall. He only stayed in the league until 1934 and hit just 51 homers over his final 1,645 plate appearances.

Wilson fit an incredible season into just one half of play. In his final 356 plate appearances, he slashed .363/.455/.742 with 32 home runs and 109 RBI. Each of his last three months of the regular season included double-digit homers and at least 30 RBI, but nothing compares to what he did in August. In just 144 plate appearances, Wilson posted a 1.284 OPS (which included a .788 slugging percentage) with 13 home runs and 53 (!!) RBI.

Andre Dawson: 49 Home Runs in 1987

Andre Dawson accumulated three seasons of 30-plus homers, but on two of those occasions, he topped out at 32. In the other one? Well, he made it count by hitting 49 and driving in 137 runs. Both of those numbers led the league as he’d go on to win his first and only NL MVP Award. Just in case that wasn’t enough, the Hall of Famer added an All-Star Game appearance, a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger Award for fun.

Dawson’s power numbers at home (27 homers, 71 RBI) weren’t much different from what he did on the road (21 homers, 66 RBI). But he was a much different hitter overall at Wrigley Field. In front of the home fans, he hit .332/.372/.668. Those numbers dropped to .246/.288/.480 on the road.

The only time he hit more than eight homers in a single month was in August. He nearly doubled that number by slugging 15 and driving in 28 with a 1.098 OPS.

Dave Kingman: 48 Home Runs in 1979

If there’s a hitter who you could pluck from a different era and drop down in the current iteration of Major League Baseball without noticing a difference, it’d probably be Dave Kingman. For the most part, he was your prototypical low-average, high-strikeout, high-power kind of dude, but not necessarily in 1979. His 48 home runs led the league, and he paired that with 115 RBI, along with a .288/.343/.613 line.

Kingman was quite consistent throughout the year. He posted a monthly OPS above 1.000 three times and never finished with one below .830. The slugger compiled double-digit homers in one month (12 in May) and never collected fewer than six in a month. Do you know what is a head-scratcher, though? Kingman performed better in Cubs losses than victories.

When Chicago was victorious, he had a .914 OPS with 22 homers and 67 RBI. But when they lost, his OPS went up to .997 with 26 homers and 48 RBI.

Ernie Banks: 47 Home Runs in 1958

Before Sosa took over, Ernie Banks was the guy who dominated the top of the Cubs’ single-season home run leaderboard. They didn’t call him Mr. Cub for no reason, ya know. The 1958 season was Banks’ first of two straight MVP campaigns, and even as a 27-year-old, he was already used to hitting 40-plus dingers in a season. This year marked the third time he surpassed that mark, and the second season in a row he did so. This was a streak that would last another two years.

Banks especially enjoyed the home cooking of Wrigley Field, as 30 of his 47 dingers came at the friendly confines. So did 75 of his 129 total RBI while slashing .340/.393/.700. His line dropped to a much more human .287/.339/.533 on the road. The shortstop only hit more than five homers in a month on three occasions, but when he did, he made them count. He slugged eight in May and then enjoyed consecutive double-digit performances in July (11) and August (13).

Derrek Lee: 46 Home Runs in 2005

Derrek Lee was one of my favorite players to watch growing up. He not only could hit, but that man could pick the ball over at first base. For today, though, we’re going to keep talking about just how good he was with the bat. The 2005 season was his second with the Cubs, and it was easily his best.

Lee took home a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award while finishing third in NL MVP voting. Those 46 dingers were a career-high, and his 107 RBI was the first time he passed the century mark. His .335/.418/.662 line netted him the batting title, while he also led the league in doubles (50) and hits (199).

Although his production fell off after the All-Star Game, it’s hard to not have your jaw drop to the floor after peeking at his first-half production. In 367 plate appearances, Lee slashed .378/.452/.733 with 27 homers, 27 doubles, and 72 RBI. He didn’t enjoy a month with double-digit homers, but he either hit seven or nine and nothing else. Really -- Lee hit seven homers in each of April, June, August, and September, and he hit nine in each of May and July.

Chicago White Sox All-Time HR Leaders

Frank Thomas: 448 Home Runs

Thomas put together an impressive offensive resume during his 19-year Hall of Fame career. The Big Hurt posted a lifetime line of .301/.419/.555 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI. Out of those 19 years in the big leagues, his first 16 came as a member of the White Sox. It was a rather incredible run of dominance for the first baseman as he reached the top of the franchise’s career leaderboard, which we talked about when highlighting all-time home run leaders for each MLB team.

After hitting seven homers in 60 games played as a 22-year-old in 1990, Thomas rattled off eight straight seasons of at least 24 home runs and 100 RBI. This streak also included a five-year run where Thomas upped the ante and slugged at least 35 dingers each season.

His time with the franchise from 2001-05 was not nearly as dominant, and it’s mostly because he couldn’t stay on the field consistently. We talked about Thomas’ 42-homer campaign in 2003 already. He also added 28 homers the year prior, but outside of those two seasons, he combined to hit just 34 homers, which came over 128 games. Not bad production for one year, but not great when it’s spread out over three.

That first stretch was great, though. From 1991 to 1997, Thomas never finished worse than eighth in AL MVP voting. He enjoyed four top three finishes during this time, bringing home the hardware on two of those occasions.

Paul Konerko: 432 Home Runs

When I hear the name Paul Konerko, all I think of is the Chicago White Sox. It’s one of those player-team relationships that are just synonymous with one another. I was surprised to realize he spent parts of his first two seasons in the big leagues elsewhere. He debuted for the Los Angeles Dodgers as a 21-year-old in 1997 and spent about a season and a half there before playing 26 games for the Cincinnati Reds.

But from 1999 to 2014, Konerko was a member of the White Sox, and he accomplished quite a bit during that period. He never led the league in any major offensive categories, was named an All-Star six times, and finished in the top 10 of AL MVP voting just twice. However, he did capture ALCS MVP honors and a World Series championship during Chicago’s 2005 title run.

In his 16 years on the South Side, Konerko hit double-digit home runs every season except his final one as a 38-year-old. He also enjoyed 13 different seasons of 20-plus homers, with his last nine coming consecutively between 2004 and 2012. Of those instances, nine were 30-homer seasons, and his most powerful span came in 2004 and 2005 when he enjoyed back-to-back campaigns of at least 40 home runs. His 2004 performance is tied with Thomas for the most by a White Sox first baseman in one season.

José Abreu: 243 Home Runs

From the perspective of counting stats, José Abreu was about as consistent as they came. Outside of the pandemic-shortened season of 2020, the first baseman slugged at least 20 homers each year since debuting in 2014 until 2021. He also drove in at least 100 runs in all but one full season during that time (78 in 2018). And his streak of at least 20 homers in a season nearly stayed intact since he hit 19 during his 2020 MVP campaign.

When using fWAR and wRC+ as the measuring stick, Abreu’s 2014 rookie season is still his best overall performance, where he produced numbers of 5.3 and 167, respectively. He not only was selected to the All-Star Game, but he also won a Silver Slugger award, AL Rookie of the Year, and placed fourth in MVP voting.

Most of his work in 2014 in the home run department came before the All-Star break, as 29 of his 36 dingers were slugged in the first half.

Harold Baines: 221 Home Runs

Harold Baines had multiple stops with the White Sox over his 22-year big-league career. His first nine-plus years were spent in Chicago before bouncing around to Texas, Oakland, and Baltimore. He came back to the White Sox for part of the 1997 season before bouncing around a few more places and eventually finishing his career on the South Side in 2000 and 2001.

Baines enjoyed 11 seasons with 20-plus home runs. Six of those instances came consecutively from 1982 through 1987. This stretch also included three All-Star Game selections and two top-10 finishes in AL MVP voting. His breakout was quite noticeable, too. After hitting 23 homers with 90 RBI in 814 plate appearances over his first two years, Baines put up 25 and 105, respectively, in ‘82.

During the six seasons mentioned above, Baines averaged 23 home runs, 29 doubles, 99 RBI, and 76 runs scored while slashing .292/.342/.477.

Carlton Fisk: 214 Home Runs

Carlton Fisk spent the entirety of his 24-year Hall of Fame career wearing just two different types of socks, as he suited up for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago. And while he put together some iconic moments in Beantown, he spent more of his time with the White Sox (13 years) than he did with the Red Sox (11 years).

He arrived in Chicago in 1981, which was his age-33 campaign. After hitting a combined 21 homers over his first 930 plate appearances (spanning two seasons), Fisk found his power stroke. The veteran backstop would go on to enjoy four seasons of at least 20 homers in the next five years, with his 1985 season being the true outlier.

As a 37-year-old, Fisk matched his age in homers with a career-high 37 taters and 107 RBI to go along with a .238/.320/.488 line. This power surge was made possible by a solid first half. He slugged 23 homers with 54 RBI and a .848 OPS in 302 plate appearances before the All-Star Game. After the midsummer classic, Fisk hit his final 14 dingers. The backstop paired it with 53 RBI and a .770 OPS in 318 plate appearances.

Chicago white sox

Single-Season hr leaders

Albert Belle: 49 Home Runs in 1998

Albert Belle spent just two years with the White Sox. But my goodness, the dude made both of those years count. After slugging 30 home runs with 116 RBI in 1997, he set the franchise single-season record in 1998 with 152 RBI. Belle also watched his OPS improve from .823 in 1997 to 1.055 (!) in 1998. His wRC+ also went from 113 to 165, while his fWAR went from 1.9 to 7.1.

That’s just a little bit of a jump, I’d say.

Stunningly, he didn’t lead baseball in either home runs or RBI. That’s what happens when you go on a power binge during the Great Home Run Chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. His 49-homer output was the seventh straight season in which Belle slugged at least 30. That streak would reach eight years the following season by mashing another 37 taters for the Baltimore Orioles in 1999.

He ripped off a 31-homer performance following the All-Star break, which is just insane to think about. He slugged 16 dingers in July. That was followed by hitting a combined 16 between August and September to land on the above number.

Jermaine Dye: 44 Home Runs in 2006

Jermaine Dye enjoyed some solid performances during his 14-year MLB career. None were better than what he accomplished in 2006. He earned his second and final All-Star Game selection while eventually setting single-season career-high marks for homers (44), RBI (120), slugging percentage (.622), OPS (1.006), and wRC+ (151).

Dye accumulated just 3.0 fWAR during this campaign, which was far from his career-best performances (4.2 in 1999 and 2000). In his age-32 season, Dye’s defense was horrid enough to dampen his overall value. But he still placed fifth in AL MVP voting.

Who knows where he would’ve finished if he didn’t have a rough September -- at least, it was rough when compared to the rest of his season. Dye’s first five months included four instances of producing an OPS greater than 1.000.

In July and August, he combined for 19 home runs and 51 RBI. August didn’t produce his highest monthly OPS, but it was his best overall performance when looking at his full body of work. In 118 plate appearances, the outfielder slashed .355/.390/.682 with 10 homers and 30 RBI. He finished the year with five homers, 13 RBI, and .835 OPS in September.

Frank Thomas: 43 Home Runs in 2000

We’ll soon see that Frank Thomas is heavily featured here, which makes sense since he’s the all-time home leader in Chicago White Sox history. Probably the most astonishing fact about Thomas is that while he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer and collected five seasons of 40-plus home runs, he never led the league in that category. The same could also be said about winning a single-season RBI title.

So, with his two AL MVP awards, he has twice as many MVP awards as he does home run and RBI crowns. Combined. That’s baseball, baby.

Although his .328/.436/.625 line was bested during other seasons in his career, his 43 home runs and 143 RBI collected in 2000 were both single-season career-high marks. He also nearly won his third MVP, placing second behind Jason Giambi by 32 points. Thomas’ performance was also notable because of the two years he encountered on either side. In 1999, he slugged just 15 home runs in 590 plate appearances. He hit just four in 79 plate appearances in 2001.

The Big Hurt was excellent in most situations during the 2000 season. However, it was clear he preferred hitting at home. Away from the South Side, he posted a .923 OPS. This pales in comparison to the 1.199 mark he produced in Chicago. The same is true in the power department -- 30 (!) of his 43 homers came while playing in front of the hometown fans.

Jim Thome: 42 Home Runs in 2006

I remember Jim Thome racking up service time as a member of the White Sox, but I’m still a little shocked after looking at his stats. He was there from 2006 through most of 2009 (he finished that year with the Los Angeles Dodgers) and hit at least 20 homers each year. For the three full years he spent there from 2006-08 -- in which he was in his mid-to late-30s -- Thome racked up at least 30 taters each time.

Whether it was from the standpoint of his triple slash, fWAR, wRC+, or any of his counting stats, his first campaign in 2006 was his best work for Chicago. It was his sixth and final season of 40 home runs, as well as his ninth and final season of 100-plus RBI.

Thome laid the groundwork for his last 40-homer performance in the first two months of the season. He slugged 10 homers in both April and May, posting an OPS greater than 1.000 both times. While his OPS would surpass that number two more times over the final four months, he hit more than six homers just once (eight in July).

Frank Thomas: 42 Home Runs in 2003

Here’s that man again, and this isn’t the last we’ll be hearing from him, either. Thomas enjoyed 11 different seasons with at least 20 home runs and 100 RBI. The 2003 season was the second-to-last time he reached both of those benchmarks, and it was the final time he surpassed the 40-homer plateau.

Like his 2000 campaign, Thomas did more of the same when looking at his home/road splits. He posted a 1.064 OPS with 29 home runs and 64 RBI at home, compared to a .833 OPS, 13 home runs, and 41 RBI on the road in a comparable number of plate appearances. The slugger also took advantage of facing left-handed pitchers, as 17 of his 42 dingers came in this situation despite racking up just 184 plate appearances against southpaws.

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AS NOTED IN yesterday’s bitchy Chicago Sports Stuff screed, I’m very much whatever about the NBA Summer League.

But as noted in many, many CSS posts, I’m very much pro-click. So I have to do a Summer League preview whether I like it or not.

I don’t like it.

However, thanks to the magic of copying, pasting, and linking, I can let everybody else preview the damn thing. They do the work so I don’t have to.

To that end, here’s some salient Bulls Summer League stuff — schedule, roster, that sort of thing — as well as what six Chicago pundits who care about Summer League have to say about the whole mess.

CHICAGO BULLS SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Friday, July 10, 2026

• Opponent: Memphis Grizzlies

• Location: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

• TV: ESPN2

Monday, July 13

• Date: Monday, July 13, 2026

• Opponent: Utah Jazz

• Location: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Time: 8:00 p.m. CDT

• TV: NBA TV

Tuesday, July 14

• Opponent: Washington Wizards

• Location: Cox Pavilion (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Time: 7:00 p.m. CDT

• TV: NBA TV

Thursday, July 16

• Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026

• Opponent: Los Angeles Lakers

• Location: Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Time: 9:00 p.m. CDT

• TV: ESPN

Saturday, July 18 or Sunday, July 19, 2026

• Opponent: TBD

• Location: Thomas & Mack Center or Cox Pavilion (Las Vegas, Nevada)

• Time: TBD

• TV: TBD

CHICAGO BULLS SUMMER LEAGUE ROSTER

• Obinna Anochili-Killen, C, Marshall

• Tobe Awaka, C, Arizona

• Charles Bediako, C, Alabama

• Boo Buie, G, Northwestern

• Noa Essengue, F, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)

• Emanuel Miller, F, TCU

• Isaac Nogues, F, Rip City Remix (G League)

• Lachlan Olbrich, C, Illawarra Hawks (Australia)

• Quimari Peterson, G, East Tennessee State

• Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky

• Jaylin Sellers, G, UCF

• Dailyn Swain, F, Xavier

• Caleb Wilson, F, North Carolina

• Jireh Washington, G, New Mexico State

• Jahmir Young, G, Maryland

  ---

WHAT THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING

Alex Kirschenbaum, Bleacher Nation

“Our Chicago Bulls have finally revealed an intriguing 2026 NBA Summer League lineup.

This year’s crop appears to be loaded with forwards who fit the “SLAP” (Size, Length, Athleticism and Physicality) team-building formula prescribed by new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham.

Some of these names are fairly unsurprising. Rookie first-round draftees Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain are, of course, the standouts.

2025 lottery pick Noa Essengue — who has apparently grown two inches since the start of last season — is the biggest wild card.

One hopes that he won’t get lost in the frontcourt fray on this retooled post-AKME Chicago roster.”

Elias Schuster, Bulls on SI

“All things considered, it will be a great test for all the youngsters on this roster. But we all know who will command the most attention in the coming days. Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain will easily be the two most important players to watch. The two Top 15 picks will enter Year 1 with some high expectations, and this will be their first opportunity to show they can rise to the occasion.

Wilson, in particular, is obviously viewed as this franchise’s potential saving grace. He will draw a lot of attention over the next couple of weeks, especially when we consider that he hasn’t seen the court since early February. The Tar Heels’ star broke his thumb during the season and was not able to make it back in time for NCAA Tournament play.”

Marcus Robinson, Chicago Crusader

“While Summer League standings rarely predict regular-season success, the event has become an important developmental tool across the NBA. For the Bulls, the games will provide an early look at the style of basketball first-year head coach Tiago Splitter hopes to establish while giving coaches an opportunity to evaluate chemistry, defensive communication and player development in competitive situations.

Among the biggest storylines will be [Caleb] Wilson’s first professional games.

The fourth overall selection enters Summer League carrying considerable expectations after arriving in Chicago with a reputation as one of the draft’s most versatile forwards. During his introductory news conference Friday, Wilson made it clear he intends to embrace those expectations rather than shy away from them.

‘I expect to have Rookie of the Year,’ Wilson said. ‘I’m going to work hard and do what it takes. I think the team is really good for me and how I envision playing. I know I’m a hard worker, so whatever I need to fix before the season, I’m going to work on so I can become a great player.’”

Kevin Schmit, Daily Herald

“Oh yeah…Noa Essengue.

One of the final parting shots from former VP Arturas Karnisovas was drafting Essengue last year with the 12th overall pick.

Essengue played a total of about six minutes in two games with the Bulls, and then played only four games with the G-League Windy City Bulls before being lost for the season with a shoulder injury.

Is Essengue ready to go for the summer? How much leeway will he get from Graham and Splitter as a player from the past regime?

He can start to prove himself this week.”

Chris Kwiecinski, FOX 32 Chicago

“A former Northwestern star highlights the Chicago Bulls’ 2026 NBA Summer League roster that will play in Las Vegas.

The headliners are No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson and No. 15 overall pick Dailyn Swain. However, former Northwestern star and Wildcats all-time leading scorer Boo Buie will get a chance to impress the Bulls.

Buie is on the roster, as is former Illinois State and Kentucky sharpshooter Antonio Reeves. Two-way contract players Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka will see plenty of minutes, too.

Noa Essengue, the Bulls’ No. 12 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will also play in the Summer League.

The Bulls’ also have included former Alabama center Charles Bediako on their Summer League roster. Bediako made national news after he tried to make a return to college basketball in 2026 after spending three years in the NBA’s G-League from 2023 to 2025.”

Morris Bankston, Pippen Ain’t Easy

“[N]oteworthy in the 2026 edition of the Bulls' summer league roster is the confirmation that Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter will also serve as the head coach of the Bulls’ summer league roster.

Typically, an NBA franchise’s summer league head coach will be an assistant coach or the head coach of the franchise’s NBA G-League affiliate. Splitter’s desire to coach in Las Vegas is an early testament to his commitment to player development.”

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AN ANECDOTE to demonstrate how the NBA Summer League looked in the 2010’s.

I’d just been hired to write for a well-funded online start-up sports content platform, and from day one, we were all about big game hunting: Big names, big personalities, and (hopefully) big reader engagement.

No offense at all to the sports world’s less-than-big-names, but weren’t interested in interviewing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ assistant linebackers coach or the 20th guy on the Ottawa Senators’ depth chart. (Because, reader engagement.) No, we wanted Kevin Durant, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, and any other noteworthy Kevin we could get our mitts on.

It didn’t go well.

As any writer with a modicum of experience in the sports world knows, unless you’re an ESPN or an NBC Sports, access is a bitch. As any writer with a modicum of experience in the sports world also knows, the Miami Heat boast one of the classiest, if not the classiest operation in the NBA, maybe even in all of professional sports.

When I reached out to their media department right before start of the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas with a request to interview with head coach Erik Spoelstra, they made it happen, and they made it happen quick. Because they’re amazing.

The Heat’s publicity maven scheduled me half an hour of phone time with Spo which, Spo being Spo, turned into twice that. Sadly, the transcription of our chat is long gone — I’ve been through three, maybe four MacBook Airs since then, and it didn’t make it onto the cloud — but if I still had the thing, I’d reprint it in its entirety, because, if memory serves, it was generous, informative, and fun.

But I distinctly remember one exchange right at the end:

ME: Thanks for your time, Erik. I really appreciate it.

SPO: My pleasure. You gonna be in Vegas next week?

ME: Um…

SPO: I’m going in a few days early. Reach out to [the media maven]. Track me down. We’ll grab lunch.

ME: Yeah, [my platform] won’t be sending me.

SPO: Ah, too bad. Maybe we’ll connect in-season.

Two takeaways:

1. Erik Spoelstra is fucking awesome. (Spo, if you’re reading this — which you’re probably not, but anything’s possible — I’ll take you up on that lunch next time you’re in Chicago.)

2. In today’s NBA climate, that would never happen during Summer League. Or preseason. Or in-season, Or off-season. Or ever.

A decade ago, if memory still serves, Summer League games were played in (more or less) the equivalent of high school gyms; tickets were dirt cheap; fans and players cheerfully interacted a la your typical Double-A minor league baseball game; and if/when the games were televised, it was on ESPN18.

Today, not so much.

• Virtually every game airs on Prime Video, the ESPN Mothership, or NBA TV

• There aren’t any high school-esque gyms, just the Thomas & Mack Center, capacity 18,000.

• A “day pass,” which allows a fan to watch all of any given day’s games, averages out to about $75.

• The only way to enjoy a meet-and-greet is via an “Official Experience” pass, which runs anywhere from $229 to — wait for it, wait for it — $3,396.

$3,396. Not a typo. The fact that fans will be meeting and greeting players who’ll likely never play in an NBA game makes the whole thing that much sillier.

As much as I want to see how Caleb Wilson looks in a Bulls uniform, I won’t be watching Prime Video, the ESPN Mothership, or NBA TV out of protest, a protest that’ll undoubtedly bring the NBA to its knees. (Admittedly, I’ll pay close attention to the highlights that’ll inevitably pop on my Instagram feed. After all, I’m a highly-respected Chicago sports journalist, and we highly-respected Chicago sports journalists have to check out to a Bulls’ top-four pick. It’s an imperative.)

Since you can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube, this is how the Summer League will look for the rest of the NBA’s life: A money grab that’s as egregious as the NFL’s preseason. Maybe even more so.

The NBA touts itself as a fan-friendly league, but sucking the fun out of what should be a Savannah Bananas-like experience doesn’t scream coolness, just greed.

I think Erik Spoelstra would agree.

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CHANCES ARE NONE OF YOU will draft your fantasy football team for at least seven weeks. Maybe six. Possibly five.

So why am I burning a column on a topic that won’t be super-relevant for another 40-ish days? Welp, save for Miguel Vargas’ All-Star nod (yay, Miggy!) we’ve got jack-poo happening in the Chicago sports world, so here we are.

Fantasy-wise, our chances of coming up with something, y’know, useful is limited, as we don’t know what the NFL’s Opening Day rosters will look like. But that won’t stop us from hopping over to FantasyPros and using their ADPs (Average Draft Positions) to concoct…something.

To take it next level — or to sink it below sea level — we’ll throw in my unscientific fantasy positional rankings and my even less scientific reasoning behind said ranks.

I’d advise you to take exactly zero of my advice. Because, unscientific and no rosters.

Caleb Williams: Quarterback

• ADP: 70

• Positional Rank: QB6

• Just Behind: Drake Maye (QB5)

• Just Ahead Of: Jalen Hurts (QB7)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: QB9

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: QB6? Let’s slow our roll, managers. Methinks the third-year man will land in the top ten, but not ahead of, say, Dak Prescott who, if healthy, is always good for two or three 400-yard games. I envision less explosions and more consistency from Williams, and consistency is lovely on a week-to-week basis, but unless you’re prime Pat Mahomes, that doesn’t get you in fantasy’s top-six.

D’Andre Swift: Running Back

• ADP: 51

• Positional Rank: RB21

• Just Behind: David Montgomery (RB20)

• Just Ahead Of: TreVeyon Henderson (RB22)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: RB24

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: Coach Ben Johnson says all the right things about Chicago’s theoretical lead back, but I think that’s smoke. The Bears will have a split backfield, with theoretical RB2 Kyle Monangai quickly bulling his way into the theoretical RB1 slot. Me, I wouldn’t draft Swift unless he fell into my lap late in the proceedings. But the other guy?…

Kyle Monangai: Running Back

• ADP: 93

• Positional Rank: RB34

• Just Behind: Blake Corum (R33)

• Just Ahead Of: J.K. Dobbins (RB35)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: RB20

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: On about 1/4th of the teams in this league, the sophomore out of Rutgers might well be RB1, but here in Chicago, he’ll land at RB1.5…until he becomes RB1…at which point savvy fantasy managers (like me) will be tickled that they drafted him too early.

Luther Burden III: Wide Receiver

• ADP: 42

• Positional Rank: WR21

• Just Behind: Garrett Wilson (WR20)

• Just Ahead Of: Mike Evans (WR22)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: WR11

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: It would stand to reason that if you have a quarterback landing at QB10 or better, his WR1 would finish the year somewhere in the top-20. Burden is an obsessive chip-on-the-shoulder workout freak who I can totally envision as the NFL’s 2026 breakout receiver.

Rome Odunze: Wide Receiver

• ADP: 60

• Positional Rank: WR30

• Just Behind: Carnell Tate (WR29)

• Just Ahead Of: Brian Thomas Jr. (WR31)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: WR30

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: As goes Burden, so not goes Odunze. No slight to the Washington product, but there are a bunch of mouths to feed — remember, Colston Loveland is still on the roster — and someone’s going to get slighted. Yeah, there’ll be two or three games where Rome goes off, but that’s not enough to rank him in the 20s.

Zavoin Thomas: Wide Receiver

• ADP: 244

• Positional Rank: 102

• Just Behind: Skyler Bell (WR101)

• Just Ahead Of: Darius Slayton (WR103)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: WR88

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: When I’m my fantasy league’s commissioner, I like to include bonus points for 40-plus-yard receptions. The rookie speedster will post a couple of those, as well as some nifty gadget runs, so he’ll crack the top-100 in goofball leagues like mine, and he’ll do so relatively easily.

Kalif Raymond: Wide Receiver

• ADP: 283

• Positional Rank: 120

• Just Behind: Kevin Coleman Jr. (WR119)

• Just Ahead Of: Kyle Williams (W121)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: WR125

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: Another not-enough-to-go-around situation. Raymond is usually good for one quality streaming week, but it’s impossible to discern what week that’ll be.

Jahdae Walker: Wide Receiver

• ADP: 348

• Positional Rank: 152

• Just Behind: Greg Dortch (WR151)

• Just Ahead Of: Cedric Tillman (WR153)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: WR140

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: Walker and Raymond will be fighting for crumbs, but Coach Ben will give them enough crumbs to land them both in the top-150.

Colston Loveland: Tight End

• ADP: 47

• Positional Rank: TE3

• Just Behind: Trey McBride (TE2)

• Just Ahead Of: Tyler Warren (TE4)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: TE3

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: The sophomore will put up sick numbers, but Brock Bowers and Trey McBride are the go-to pass-catchers on their respective teams — understandable, they’re both beasts — so they’ll get the slight edge. Slight.

Cole Kmet: Tight End

• ADP: 263

• Positional Rank: 43

• Just Behind: Ja'Tavion Sanders (TE42)

• Just Ahead Of: Mason Taylor (TE44)

• Alan’s Unscientific Positional Rank: TE32

Alan’s Unscientific Reasoning: Kmet and Caleb had a nice rapport last season, so as is the case with Odunze, the Notre Dame alum will have a high-end game or three. Does this make him worth drafting in your ten-team league ? Nah, he’ll be a waiver wire wonder, but he’ll put up better numbers than a goodly number of the league’s starting tight ends, so he might be worth a peek in 12- or 14-team situations.

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I DON’T LIKE being the commissioner of my fantasy football league. And you don’t like being the commissioner of your fantasy football league. But we do it anyhow. Because, fantasy football.

That said, over the last five NFL seasons, my performance when I’ve been stuck running the show is pretty dang good: Two league wins and one trip to the finals to go with two years of crap.

A quick peek at the Chicago Sports Stuff abacus tells us that’s a .400 batting average.

So I’m the Ted Williams of fantasy.

So I’m willing to commish again.

And yes, in this instance, “commish” is a verb.

Most of the managers from my 2025 league have gone MIA, so I figured since I want to keep up my Splendid Splinter-esque run, let’s forget about my flighty friends and get my awesome readers involved.

Thus, the Chicago Sports Stuff Fantasy Football League.

It’ll be a low-stakes, ten-team affair, and you can be one of the nine lucky folks to win a spot. Judging will be based on your team name; the nine slickest monikers get to try and knock me off of my semi-lofty perch.

(In terms my team name, I’m rolling with Thieneman Square. Get it? Bears? First round pick? Dillon Thieneman? Historical event? Get it? Get it? Genius! FWIW, my backup is Beast of Burden, an homage to the Rolling Stones and Luther Burden III that’s almost as genius as Thieneman Square. Almost.)

Anyhoobs, here’re some of the CSSFFL specifics:

• $50 buy-in. (Works on the trust system, in that you send the winner their money after the season. I should note that three of the owners from my 2025 league win never paid me, yet I still trust.)

• Runner-up gets their buy-in back, winner gets the rest.

• Standard fantasy scoring, save for all kinds of goofy bonus points, TBD.

• Full PPR, because half PPR and no PPR are stupid. Yeah, I said it.

• Overstuffed starting lineups: Two QBs, two RBs, three WRs, two TEs, one FLEX, one D/ST.

• No IDP, because IDP is stupid. Yeah, I said it.

• Each manager has to make at least one trade before the deadline.

• Yahoo platform.

The only caveat is that you must continue to try even after you’ve been eliminated. Like if your record is, say, 1-6, you still have to set your lineups, and play the waiver wire, and consider trades, and, if you’re so inclined, talk smack.

If you want in, send your team name to ChicagoSportsStuff@gmail.com, and you can be a part of the bestest fantasy league ever!

And maybe next season, one of you can run the damn thing. Because, as I emphatically noted, I don’t like being the commissioner of my fantasy football league.

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(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2024, so there are two years worth of books that might be missing. But I still love this list, so here we are.)

NOT ONLY ARE WE sportswriters. We’re also sports readers.

Being sports readers, we’re well aware that the vast majority of sports book “best of” lists that populate the interwebs include David Halberstam’s brilliant look at 1970s basketball, The Breaks of the Game; Jim Bouton’s hilarious insider baseball diary Ball Four, and something like 291 of Roger Angell’s baseball studies, all of which are ridiculously good.

Few of these lists, however, give significant love to books that were published in or after the year 2000. But that ends here.

Since we like numerical symmetry, here are 21 of the finest sports books that dropped in the 21st Century. And as we don’t want to play favorites, the list is alphabetical by author.

Wheelmen: Lance Armstrong, the Tour de France, and the Greatest Sports Conspiracy Ever

Reed Albergotti & Vanessa O’Connell

Avery Books, 2013

Once the whole Lance Armstrong doping mess calmed down, it was inevitable that both dialed-in sportswriters and hardcore investigative reporters would bang out book-length studies of the disgraced cyclist. Former Wall Street Journal sportswriter Albergotti’s and Reuters’ Global Industry editor O’Connell’s version of the Armstrong tale is the most readable and best-sourced of the bunch. In a weird way, they made Armstrong’s rise and fall, well, kinda fun to read about, which is eminently impressive.

Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football

Rich Cohen

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013

A lovely combination of memoir and historical study, lifelong Bears nut Cohen relates the gripping story of the only Monsters of the Midway squad to win a Super Bowl, while blending in details of his fandom in a manner that makes you want to invite him over to watch Red Zone every Sunday. Props to Rich for landing interviews with numerous members of the team, the most notable being a touching afternoon spent with the Bears’ punky QB, Jim McMahon.

Every Time I Talk to Liston: A Novel

Brian DeVido

Bloomsbury, 2004

Most of these sorts of lists have an entry or two where you’re like, “Um, never heard of that one,” and this cool novel is it. The deep cut piece of fiction comes from the pen of a former Virginia Golden Gloves heavyweight champ, so it’s little wonder that DeVido’s debut — the story of a troubled boxer and his up-and-coming manager — feels so damn real. His love for Sonny Liston adds a layer of pathos that one wouldn’t expect from boxing fiction.

Ali: A Life

Jonathan Eig

Mariner Books, 2017

Joyce Carol Oates is a way better writer than any of us, so we’ll pull some fantastic words from her New York Times review of Eig’s modern classic: “Much in its pages will be familiar to those with some knowledge of boxing but even the familiar may be glimpsed from a new perspective in Eig’s fluent prose; for pages in succession its narrative reads like a novel — a suspenseful novel with a cast of vivid characters who prevail through decades and who help to define the singular individual who was both a brilliantly innovative, incomparably charismatic heavyweight boxer and a public figure whose iconic significance shifted radically through the decades as in an unlikely fairy tale in which the most despised athlete in American history becomes, by the 21st century, the most beloved athlete in American history.”

Big Hair and Plastic Grass: A Funky Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging ‘70s

Dan Epstein

Thomas Dunne Books, 2010

This title from a colorful pop culture writer was fantastic for us in that the depiction of baseball’s 1970’s-era weirdness was a nostalgic look back for the old dudes, and an enriching historical study for the young dudes. The fact that Mark Fidrych is on the cover takes it over the edge.

A Few Seconds of Panic: A Sportswriter Plays in the NFL

Stefan Fatsis

Penguin Books, 2009

A criminally underknown memoir, Fatsis’ tale of his journey to become a professional NFL kicker at the age of, um, fortysomething is the modern version of George Plimpton’s 1966 football literature classic, Paper Lion. The former Wall Street Journal sports scribe breaks down the kicking process, while bringing us inside the Denver Broncos’ locker room, a locker room that included a snarky Jay Cutler, a boisterous Jake Plummer, and an obnoxious Todd Sauerbrun. Considering the tight-lip-eness of today’s NFL, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more intimate look at The Shield.

K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches

Tyler Kepner

Doubleday Books, 2019

Kepner’s subtitle took cojones. Think about it: Baseball’s century-plus story is so rich and detailed that claiming you can tell its history via sliders and change ups is quite the brag. But the veteran baseball writer — whose work has been seen in the New York Times and The Athletic — pulls it off, utilizing Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Mariano Rivera, and Clayton Kershaw as case studies. It sounds pedantic. It’s not.

Big Game: The NFL in Dangerous Times

Mark Lebovich

Penguin Press, 2018

A political writer by trade, Lebovich gushes about his New England Patriots in a charming manner that would have your prototypical Masshole Pats fan screaming, “Ya too @&%#ing nice, Leebs!!!” But for non-Pats people (which is pretty much every football viewer outside of the Bay State) the 400 pages spent with Tom Brady, Bill Belichik, et al isn’t just tolerable — it’s fun. The fact that Lebovich makes Brady seem like a normal, down-to-earth fella is a feat in and of itself.

Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever

Jack McCallum

Ballantine Books, 2012

These kinds of books are all about access, and the former Sports Illustrated staffer had plenty of it, landing quality time with most of the 1992 Olympic hoops roster. This allowed him to deliver quality reportage on the team’s off-court fun, the incessant insults (we’re talking to you, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and Larry Bird), and the legendary Dream Team intersquad practice tilt that, in terms of actual basketball, was far more interesting than anything we saw at the Games.

Foul Lines: A Pro Basketball Novel

Jack McCallum & Jon Wertheim

Touchstone Books, 2006

Sports novels are very hit and very miss; here, McCallum and his former Sports Illustrated partner-in-crime hit, and hit hard. Admittedly, the premise is kind of ridiculous — a veteran All-Star shooting guard from a professional basketball team hides from the law after a hit-and-run car wreck, all while engaging in a will-they-won’t-they dance with a local paper’s new female beat reporter — but the authors brought their knowledge of NBA absurdity to the table, making for a farcical blast.

Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

Jeff Pearlman

Gotham Books, 2011

Here, we begin the Jeff Pearlman portion of our program, a portion that would’ve been even larger had this article been, like, eight entries longer. As it is, we’re pulling three titles from Jeff’s impressive canon, this first one being his brilliant look at the legendary Bears’ running back. In this richly detailed biography, Pearlman details Payton’s numerous physical and mental issues, giving us a surprising portrait of a Hall of Famer who many of us thought was nearly perfect.

Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s

Jeff Pearlman

Avery Books, 2014

If you’re not familiar with Pearlman — but are familiar with the HBO dramedy Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty — this is the ideal place to meet this bestselling scribe. The author’s ability to fully depict the diverse, fascinating characters that made the Lake Show of the ‘80s must-see-TV is impressive as hell, and few wordsmiths could pull it off with such aplomb and charm.

Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty

Jeff Pearlman

Mariner Books, 2020

The abovementioned Showtime clocks in at 496 pages. Three-Ring Circus runs 448 pages. Some quick addition tells us that Pearlman needed 944 pages to tell the stories of the mighty modern Lakers. Seems long, right? Okay, 944 pages is long, but it doesn’t feel long — which is why you should read these titles back-to-back, just like we did. (Note: The depiction of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s tumultuous relationship is straight-up gripping.)

Stretch: The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude

Neal Pollack

HarperCollins, 2010

Is yoga a sport? It’s not competitive, but it makes one sweat, so for the sake of this article, sure, let’s go ahead and call it a sport. An acclaimed satirist and novelist, Pollack doesn’t just goof around about his induction into the world of yoga, but he delves into the practice’s history and what the contemporary yoga scene looked like, circa 2010. And the section on “yoga farts” is worth the price of admission.

The Baseball 100

Joe Posnanski

Simon & Schuster, 2021

A former senior writer at Sports Illustrated, Posnanski’s epic is simultaneously informative and touching, as he spends a goodly number of pages discussing baseball’s impact on his family. And his in-depth look at the greats of the Negro League is as good as it gets.

The Silver Linings Playbook: A Novel

Matthew Quick

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008

Quick is one of the kings of the feel-good novel, and this story of a troubled high school teacher attempting to navigate his dysfunctional family, a painful divorce, and a mercurial love interest — all while trying to keep up with his beloved Philadelphia Eagles — begins in a dark place. But come the third act, we defy you to keep your tear ducts under control. And FWIW, the movie version of Silver Linings is pretty darn good.

The Book of Basketball

Bill Simmons

ESPN Books, 2009

If this list was a best-to-less-best ranking, Simmons’ 700-plus-page door-stopper might be right up top. An insanely detailed book that, believe it or not, is eminently re-readable, Bill’s breakdown of his love for the Celtics, the Bill Russell/Wilt Chamberlain debate, and the NBA’s greatest players is filled with relevant humor, hot takes galore, and awesome footnotes. ESPN Books dropped an updated version a few years after initial publication; it might be time for another.

Rope Burns: Stories From the Corner

F.X. Toole

Ecco Books, 2000

There’s something about quality boxing fiction that’s…special. Toole’s astounding short story collection is beyond special — it’s a timeless classic. The pseudonym of former boxer and trainer Jerry Boyd, Toole introduces the reader to heavyweight champs, unscrupulous middleweights, and gun-toting gangsters. But perhaps the most intriguing story is “Million Dollar Baby,” a tragic tale of a gritty female boxer that was adapted into potentially the great fight movie of all time, Rocky notwithstanding.

The Yankee Years

Joe Torre & Tom Verducci

Doubleday, 2009

Remember when Joe Torre was one of the most beloved managers in baseball? If you don’t, take a gander at his memoir of the memorable New York Yankees squads of the late-’90s and early-’00s. With a cast of characters featuring Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, and Daryl Strawberry, Torre’s surprisingly honest telling of the team’s tale is fascinating, even for non-Yankee fans…of which there are a whole lot.

Fantasyland: A Season on Baseball’s Lunatic Fringe

Sam Walker

Viking Books, 2006

We’d love to see more titles about fantasy sports on the shelves of our local book-a-torium. Thing is, who wants to read about somebody else’s league? Nobody, that’s who…that is, unless you’re plowing through a tome by a Wall Street Journal senior writer by the name of Sam Walker. In a Quixotic endeavor, Sam hires a young fantasy expert named Nando Di Fino (you might know of him) and a NASA scientist — that’s right, a NASA scientist — to help him win the legendary Tout Wars fantasy baseball league. Spoiler alert: Despite his Moneyball approach to fantasy, Walker didn’t bring home the hardware, but his trip through, yes, fantasyland is both illuminating and uproarious.

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LAST FRIDAY’S Chicago Sports Stuff article, “Must-Read Sports Books,” garnered nearly as many clicks as one of my high-performing mock drafts pieces, or fake trade scenarios, or Patrick Williams disses.

That’s a lot of clicks, y’all.

So what-say we get back on the literature train and and discuss 15 new sports titles that’ll grace the shelves in the coming weeks and months, some of which look awesome (I’m talking to you, Colin Kaepernick), and some of which look less-than-good (I’m talking to you, Dave Portnoy).

This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running.: Lessons for Between and Beyond the Start and Finish Line – A Philosophy on Resilience, Self-Trust, and Moving Forward

Chris Bennett

September 1, Dey Street Books

Publisher Hype: “From Nike Running’s Global Head Coach Chris Bennett comes a bold, welcoming book for runners, non-runners, and everyone in between. Rooted in the coaching philosophy that has helped millions take their first steps forward, it’s about finding the courage to cross the starting lines in your life.”

Will I Read It?: Probably not from cover-to-cover, but I bet I’ll get some quality motivational vibes with a good skim.

Pardon My Book: Ten Years of the Best (and Worst) in Sports from Pardon My Take

Big Cat and PFT Commenter

August 19, Harper

Publisher Hype: “Pardon My Book is packed with ten years of crazy content from the wildest, most irreverent sports podcast of all time. Written and curated by Big Cat and PFT with the help of the PMT crew, this entertaining yearbook takes fans behind the scenes of the show.”

Will I Read It?: Yep, but there’s a backstory, albeit a quick one: I was up to ghostwrite this book, and I didn’t get the gig. So I kind of have to check it out to see how my competition did.

The Cruelest Game: Chasing Greatness in Professional Tennis

Matthew Futterman

August 4, Doubleday

Publisher Hype: “A riveting exposé of professional tennis by revered journalist Matthew Futterman (of The New York Times and The Athletic), The Cruelest Game offers never-before-reported access to the daily routines, mindsets, and personal trials faced by today’s major stars and tomorrow’s rising newcomers.

Will I Read It?: 100%. Never pass on a title that could turn a professional sport upside down.

It’s All About the Players: What I’ve Learned from Baseball’s Best

Peter Gammons

September 22, Grand Central Publishing

Publisher Hype: “Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons dives deep into his encounters over the last six decades with the best in the sport, revealing a trove of behind-the-scenes stories about the fascinating and inspiring individuals at the heart of our national pastime.”

Will I Read It?: Most likely. Gammons is one of sports’ finest scribes, and anything he writes will be solid, regardless of the topic. But this isn’t the sexiest topic to me, thus the “most likely.”

The Perilous Fight

Colin Kaepernick

September 15, LegacyLit

Publisher Hype: “The defining and uncompromising memoir from Super Bowl quarterback and renowned Civil Right activist, Colin Kaepernick.”

Will I Read It?: Um, yeah. If you’re a sports fan, you pretty much have no choice.

Finding Renée Richards: The Groundbreaking Story of Tennis’s Trans Pioneer

Julie Kliegman

August 18, HarperOne

Publisher Hype: “The candid, definitive biography of professional tennis’s first openly transgender player, Renée Richards, featuring never-before-seen archival photos and untold stories nearly lost to history, until now.”

Will I Read It?: Hell yeah, right after I finish the Kaepernick memoir. That’ll make for a quality stretch of reading.

Perfect Storm: The Carolina Hurricanes’ Incredible Run to the 2026 Stanley Cup

Cory Lavalette

June 30, Triumph Books

Publisher Hype: “Relive all the highlights of the momentous regular season and playoffs, including stunning sweeps and gripping overtime wins as the Canes surged past the Senators, Flyers and Canadiens to set up a hard-fought Final for the ages.”

Will I Read It?: Nope. Because, hockey.

Unthinkable to Unstoppable: How Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers Stunned College Football

Mike Niziolek and Zach Osterman

Triumph Books, September 22, 2026

Publisher Hype: “The definitive chronicle of the Indiana Hoosiers improbable journey to the program’s first college football championship, featuring analysis and behind-the-scenes reporting on head coach Curt Cignetti, star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and more.”

Will I Read It?: Nah, but that’s no slight to the book, authors, publisher, or topic. I’m a fair-weather college football guy at best, and I don’t have any feelings one way or another about this Indiana team. Unless Mendoza ends up on my fantasy roster.

Inside the Owner’s Box: Conversations on Power and Leadership in Sports

David M. Rubenstein

September 22, Simon & Schuster

Publisher Hype: “Go inside the high-stakes world of sports ownership as New York Times bestselling author and owner of the Baltimore Orioles David M. Rubenstein reveals the financial strategies, leadership secrets, and billion-dollar deal-making behind championship franchises through conversations with America's most powerful owners—Robert Kraft, Jeff Lurie, Tom Ricketts, and more.”

Will I Read It?: Not so much. Don’t care about the Orioles, don’t care about Kraft, and definitely don’t care about Ricketts.

Why Hulk Hogan Matters

David Shoemaker

July 28, Harper

Publisher Hype: “Step into the ring as David Shoemaker wrestles with the legacy of the iconic Hulk Hogan. Why Hulk Hogan Matters traces the explosive heat and heel turns of how Hulk Hogan became a true cultural phenomenon. Whether you’re a lifelong Hulkamanic or fascinated by the Hulk’s truly unique, larger-than-life celebrity, Why Hulk Hogan Matters is the ultimate homage to a legend of the ring.”

Will I Read It?: For a variety of non-sports reasons — and I’m sure you news junkies know exactly what I’m talking about — hard pass.

Cancel Me If You Can

Dave Portnoy

June 20, Gallery

Publisher Hype: “In his unfiltered style, Dave Portnoy details the journey of how he built his polarizing media empire, Barstool Sports, while refusing to bend the knee to those who tried to tear him down, staying true to himself and blocking out the haters.”

Will I Read It?: Nope. Portnoy’s gross.

The W: A History of the WNBA: How the WNBA Survived, Evolved, and Changed Professional Sports

Tamryn Spruill

September 22, Abrams Press

Publisher Hype: “A raucous roller-coaster history of the WNBA, from celebrated start-up to lean years, and on to the recent boom, from a passionate sports journalist.”

Will I Read It?: You betcha. This is long overdue. Long.

Iceland Annie: The Evolution of a CrossFit Games Legend

Annie Thorisdottir

July 7, St. Martin’s Press

Publisher Hype: An inspiring memoir by CrossFit legend Annie Thorisdottir, the first woman to win the CrossFit Games twice. For the first time ever, Annie shares the intimate details of her career, delving into her mental resilience, determination, and the struggles and triumphs she’s faced as a top-level competitor over three separate decades.

Will I Read It?: Well, yeah. Because if I don’t, Annie will kick my ass up and down the mean streets of Lincoln Park.

Be on That Hill: Stories from the Summits of Sport

Seth Wickersham

September 15, Hyperion Avenue

Publisher Hype: “Epic stories from one of the great sportswriters of his generation. ESPN senior writer Seth Wickersham, the New York Times bestselling author of American Kings and It’s Better to Be Feared, shares more than two decades of his sports journalism in 26 essays.”

Will I Read It?: Abso-fucking-lutely. Seth’s my guy, and I’ll read his grocery lists.

Touching All the Bases: A Story of Power, Purpose, and Surviving the Bronx

Dave Winfield

September 15, Matt Holt Books

Publisher Hype: “A fearless and insightful portrait of power, race, and resilience from one of baseball’s most unique and dynamic Hall of Fame legends, offering an unflinching look at the battles fought both on and off the field.”

Will I Read It?: TBD. Dave seems like a great dude, but do I want to spend 288 pages with him? I’ll decide when I see the reviews.

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Updated on July 1, 10:23 a.m. CT

DANG IT, Shams beat me to the punch again.

As first reported by ESPN’s eternally plugged-in know-it-all Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls inked journeyman shooting guard Norman Powell to a two-year, $45 million contract, putting an end to my dream of them welcoming Peyton Watson into the building.

In the present, Powell is a solid addition to a team in desperate need of scoring firepower and outside shooting. The 33-year-old is coming off of back-to-back seasons in which he averaged over 21 points — the first 20-plus averages in his 12-year career — earning a 2026 All-Star nod in the process.

Norm immediately becomes the Bulls’ top three-point threat — hell, it could be said he’s their only legit three-point threat — having hit 39.9% of his beyond-the-arc attempts over the past two seasons, 18th-best in the Association over that stretch.

Normally, this would be a signing to celebrate — he’s experienced, he’s peaking, he’ll mesh well with new backcourt mate Josh Giddey, and he’s a great teammate — but adding a thirtysomething to a team that should be focused completely on the future is a super-questionable choice.

Powell will be 36 when he wraps up the second season of his new deal, and his cap hit will likely keep the 2027 Bulls from signing, say restricted free agent Brandon Miller or one of the unrestricted Thompson twins, all three of whom are, y’know, young.

The fine folks at CraftedNBA guesstimate that Norm’s presence will give the Bulls five or six extra wins, likely good enough for both another run at a Play-In Tourney bid, and way fewer ping-pong balls in a lottery for what’s projected to be a pretty darn good draft class.

They’re embracing the present while sacrificing the future. I get it. I just don’t agree.

The NBA is a results-based business, so it’s not unfair that VP of Hoops Ops Bryson Graham and Chicago’s revamped front office want to win now and keep their gigs. But they’re not going to win enough now, so while Norm will make today’s Bulls far more enjoyable to watch, and his veteran presence will be a locker room plus — and, two bonuses, his insertion in the starting lineup will send blecccch Isaac Okoro to the bench and probably cut into Patrick “Biggest. Bust. Ever.” Williams’ playing time — it could set Chicago’s rebuild back several years.

(UPDATE: Since this article was published, multiple sources reported that the second year of Powell’s deal is a team option, meaning this is, in effect, a rental season. The fact that Graham gave the team flexibility is helpful, but I still would’ve rather seen him allocate the money to a player who could help beyond this year. Like Peyton Watson. Still, the news bumped up the grade from B- to…)

Grade: B

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ASIDE FROM TINA FEY, I’m probably the only person in the world who remembers the original iteration of Sports Shouting With Scottie Shofar.

You can be very much forgiven for not recalling this 30 Rock gag, as it was two-second cutaway that first aired 17 years ago. But I’m a 30 Rock obsessive, so there you have it.

Tina resurrected Sports Shouting on her 2025 sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, once again proving the maxim…

Y’see, sports shouting is a part of the fabric of sports media.

To paraphrase my 12-year-old daughter, “It’s so extra” (she’s right), but sometimes sports shouting is useful, especially when the volume is lowered and the discussion is supported by a little thing we like to call facts.

Enter SuperDebate.

Chicago-based entrepreneur and bestselling author Matthew Rolnick sits on the SuperDebate board, and being a Chicago dude, it’s little surprise that one of the first discussions on the platform was a breakdown of the ultimate NBA question:

Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

Before we dive into SuperDebate’s G.O.A.T chat, let’s turn it over to Matthew.

Chicago Sports Stuff: What exactly is SuperDebate?

Matthew Rolnick: SuperDebate is building debate into a sport for everyone. The idea is simple: argument is one of the most useful skills a person can have, and almost nobody has a place to practice it. So we host live and online events, organized into local clubs, where regular people step up, take a side, and go at a real question with equal time and a clear format.

Think of it like a run club or a pickleball league, but for your mind. It’s competitive and it’s fun, and underneath the entertainment it’s quietly rebuilding something our culture has lost: the ability to disagree well.

CSS: Give me some backstory on how it came to life.

M.R.: Founder John Connor started SuperDebate because he saw two things at once: people everywhere have stopped listening to each other, and the skill that fixes that, structured, good-faith argument, has no home outside of school. He wanted to give it one. Not a debate society for the already-polished, but a place any adult can walk into, find a club, and get better the way you’d improve at any sport, by showing up and doing it.

The plan is to grow that into a real circuit, local clubs feeding city events feeding national competition, with the best rising through the ranks. I was introduced to John by a sharp Chicago entrepreneur named Len Bland, the mission hit home for me, and I joined the board to help scale it.

CSS: Tell us about the debaters.

M.R.: Most of what we do is everyday people, but for this one we wanted to show the ceiling, what the craft looks like at its best, so we brought in two of the most decorated debate minds in the country.

Dr. Iain Lampert is an eight-time professional national champion in the International Public Debate Association who, as a coach, has guided students to more than 1,800 individual championships, including 28 national first-place finishes.

Professor Lindsay Duede is an argumentation PhD candidate at LSU and one of the top competitors in the professional IPDA ranks She is a five-time national debate champion and her students won three national titles last season. What made it fun was watching two champion debaters, who aren’t necessarily hardcore sports fans, take on a classic sports argument with logic and data instead of pure fandom.

Lindsay made a striking point about how only the Denver Nuggets has winning record against LeBron (and only by 2 games); Iain countered with the fact that Jordan was never once swept in a playoff series.

CSS: Why is the M.J.-Lebron debate such an important topic to you?

M.R.: We live in an incredibly polarized culture where people have mostly stopped listening to the other side. I care about this because there’s real value, personal and societal, in structured listening. SuperDebate takes on serious, pressing topics, DEI, legal immigration, the ethics of extreme wealth and poverty, but the skill travels just as well through accessible, high-energy subjects like pop culture and sports.

That’s the trick: a sports debate is a Trojan horse. People show up for Jordan vs. LeBron and leave having practiced the exact muscle we’ve all let go slack. Profound or lighthearted, the goal is the same, proving we can disagree passionately and still respect each other.

CSS: Who’s your guy, Mike or Bron?

M.R.: It’s hard not to love Jordan watching him and I grew up and watching him dominate in his prime, I lean Jordan. But unlike a lot of die-hard MJ fans who say there’s no comparison, I think it’s a legitimate debate.

LeBron is a clear, undeniable number two for me, ahead of legends like Kareem, Magic, or Russell, and his longevity is historically unprecedented. He’s in the final innings, so his book isn’t finished. Another title or two and the calculus changes. For now it’s Jordan, but I want to see how LeBron closes it out.

CSS: Any future sports debates coming up?

M.R.: Absolutely, sports is a bottomless well of great debates. We’re looking at the soccer G.O.A.T. (Messi vs. Ronaldo), the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, the golf G.O.A.T. (Nicklaus vs. Woods), and the ultimate team (the best single-season NFL, NBA, or soccer squads in history.

Beyond sports, we’re building formats on the future of AI, political policy, and economic ethics. The sports debates are how we bring people in, the bigger questions are where it goes.

AND NOW, enjoy half an hour of intelligent, well-thought-out, fact-based sports shouting.

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SURE, THE CHICAGO BULLS had a solid 2026 draft — Caleb Wilson looks to be a star-in-the-making, and if all goes to plan, Dailyn Swain will be Luol Deng 2.0.

And sure, with Wilson and Swain taking the court next to Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, this young, (mostly) athletic squad could give Bulls Nation their first legitimately fun team since the halcyon days of DeBallZach.

And sure, new VP of Basketball Ops Bryson Graham seems like a righteous dude who has a semblance of a plan.

But let’s be honest with ourselves, guys: They. Aren’t. Close.

Even if the Bulls make a quantum quantum quantum leap this season — which they won’t; 40 wins is the likely ceiling — they ain’t getting past the defending World Champion New York Knicks. Or the defending Eastern Conference Champion Detroit Pistons. Or the Boston Celtics. Or the Cleveland Cavaliers. Or any of the other six teams out East that finished the 2025-26 season with a .500-plus record.

All of which means they should forget the present. All of which they shouldn’t piss away their chunky cap space on a win-now veteran.

No, what they should do this evening at 6:00 p.m. ET — the beginning of the NBA’s 2026 free agency period — is use said cap space to lock down a four-year deal with Denver Nuggets Restricted free agent Peyton Watson.

MY FAVORITE NBA METRIC is the Per-36, which tells us how a player’s numbers would look if he averaged, natch, 36 minutes a game.

Last season with the Denver Nuggets, Peyton Watson’s Per-36’s were gosh-darn good:

• 17.8 points

• 6.0 rebounds

• 2.6 assists

• 1.1 steals

• 1.4 blocks

Spread out over a whole season, that puts Watson in the conversation with…

OG Anunoby

• 18.0 points

• 4.8 rebounds

• 2.2 assists

• 1.5 steals

• 0.9 blocks

Jaden McDaniels

• 16.5 points

• 5.8 rebounds

• 2.0 assists

• 1.2 steals

• 1.0 blocks

Franz Wagner

• 20.6 points

• 5.2 rebounds

• 3.3 assists

• 0.9 steals

• 0.3 blocks

That all being the case, wouldn’t the 6’8” 23-years-old with the seven-foot wingspan look smashing next to Wilson, Giddey, and Buzelis?

Yes. Yes he would.

THE GENERAL CONSENSUS amongst those who know way more than I do about NBA contracts and such is that Watson will fetch somewhere in the neighborhood of $120 million over four years, give or take, a number that the Nuggets might or might not match. (My Spidey Sense says probably not.)

And while the Bulls are, as noted, a long ways away from being a thing, a starting lineup of Watson, Giddey, Buzelis, Wilson, and Nic Claxton would lay some solid groundwork. This theoretical starting five — average height, 6’9” — would boast an average age of just over 22-years-old.

For context, the 2025-26 Knicks’ starters averaged 29.4-years-old. By the time this theoretical Bulls core hits 29.4, Jalen Brunson and his Big Apple buddies will be furnishing their condos at a senior citizens community in Hackensack. So the timeline works.

Yes, throwing $30 million at Watson would decimate the Bulls’ cap table, but they have to try at some point.

Don’t they?

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RIGHT NOW, right this moment, right as I write this, right on Sunday, June 28 at 4:08 p.m. CT, the Windy City boasts arguably the two most entertaining entities in MLB:

Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Chicago White Sox.

After a garbage start to 2026, Cubs five-tool freak PCA is on a batshit cray-cray heater that’ll have him hitting .375-ish for the month of June, with a batshitter, cray-crazier On-Base Plus Slugging average of 1.222, the fifth highest OPS month in franchise history, behind Sammy Sosa (2x), Derek Lee, and Hack Wilson.

Meanwhile on the other side of town, after a garbage start to this decade, the 43-38 White Sox sit atop the AL Central — one game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians — the first instance the Pale Hose have been five games above .500 since September 18, 2022. Continuing down that statistical road, the Cubs sit at 45-38, and the last time the North and South Siders were, respectively, seven and five games above .500 simultaneously was the final day of the 2020 season.

That’s a long-ass time.

Apologies for all the cursing, but holy shit, we have two quality baseball teams in town, and that’s never a thing, so what better time to call on our baseball guru, MLB Daily Dingers’ Matt Musico, to discuss how we got here and where we might be headed?

Chicago Sports Stuff: How did PCA turn it around, and can he keep it up?

Matt Musico: You had to think this turnaround was coming, right? PCA flashed too many elite tools in last year’s first half for it all to just disappear. If we look at his wRC+, it’s made drastic improvements each month: 88 in March/April, 117 in May, and 232 so far in June.

What jumped out at me is the positive regression in his batted-ball profile. Here’s how certain numbers have progressed through the first three months of the season:

• Line-drive rate: 12.2%, 19.5%, 24.6%

• Ground-ball rate: 41.9%, 32.5%, 29.2%

• Soft-hit rate: 19.0%, 15.4%, 10.6%

• Hard-hit rate: 31.6%, 52.6%, 47.0%

This has helped him compile a 4.6 fWAR so far in 2026, which isn’t too far off last year’s noteworthy performance (5.4).

It’s unrealistic to think he’ll stay this hot moving forward (he has a 1.222 OPS through 109 plate appearances in June), but if his peripherals can land somewhere between what he did in May and what he’s doing in June, the Cubs will be in good shape.

CSS: We’ve seen some elite ball from this team, but they’re still behind the Brewers in the Central. What are the three main reasons the Cubs aren’t in first place?

M.M.: Their 10-game losing streak in May certainly didn’t help. They had a 2.5-game lead in the NL Central on May 15; after losing their tenth game on May 26, they dropped all the way to last in the division and 4.5 games out of first place.

It’s also worth noting that Chicago’s other NL Central foes have been quite competitive this year. Even with a 29-16 record on May 15, the last-place team in the division was only five games behind them.

Lastly, the starting rotation hasn’t performed as hoped. Their 3.1 rotation fWAR ranks 26^th in the league, while the rotation’s cumulative 4.54 ERA ranks 23^rd. That’s likely part of the reason why we saw them take a flier on David Peterson in a trade with the Mets last week.

CSS: I feel like they can still take the Central. Et tu?

M.M.: Well, I’ll tell ya what: If that four-game sweep against the Mets at Citi Field doesn’t turn things around for them, I don’t know what will. They made New York look completely silly in all aspects of the game.

What’s good is that they’ve found that consistency through the latter portion of the month. Chicago went 2-6 over its first eight games of June before going 11-5 over the next 16.

They obviously can’t control what the Brewers, Cardinals, or anyone else in the NL Central does on a nightly basis, so all they can focus on is winning as many head-to-head matchups as possible whenever they land in a new city.

CSS: Do you see them making a trade for a quality starter? Should they?

M.M.: I think they absolutely should, and while they only had to give up a single prospect to acquire Peterson, it could signal a willingness from the front office that they’re ready to be more aggressive leading up to the trade deadline.

And yes, I do see them being in the mix for a quality starter. Not Tarik Skubal if the Tigers decide to trade him, but a dependable middle-of-the-rotation kind of arm that they can trot out every five days. As any manager will tell you — especially ones with postseason aspirations — you can never have enough pitching.

CSS: They’ve been doing all of his without quality production from Alex Bregman. WTF?

It’s been a bit of a letdown so far when it comes to on-field production for Bregman, but there could be a few factors at play. He’s playing in a new city with a big contract, and isn’t eyeing an opt-out at the end of the season, as was the case with the Red Sox last year. So there could be some internal pressure being put on himself to perform.

Plus, he’d previously spent the entirety of his MLB career in the American League, meaning there are adjustments to be made with ballparks and opposing pitchers that he’s seeing more now than ever before.

It doesn’t appear that his batted-ball profile is too outrageously far off from both what he did in 2025 and his career norms, so you have to hope that some more power will be coming soon.

CSS: On a scale of 1-10, how surprised are you by the White Sox’ first half?

M.M.: Um, well, I’d have to say 15. Before the season started, we were probably talking about a .500 season being a huge step in the right direction. But being multiple games over .500 and in postseason position just days away from the calendar flipping to July? Yeah, I’m incredibly surprised.

C.S.S.: You’re the dinger guy. Will the Sox have a 40-home run hitter?

M.M.: Before Munetaka Murakami got hot, I would’ve said absolutely, but it’s more of a toss-up at this point. His injury leaves Colson Montgomery as the best possible opportunity here. I’m going to say no, but I think it’ll be real close.

C.S.S.: Is their power surge sustainable?

M.M.: Taking into account the people leading the way, I think it is. Montgomery’s 41 homers since the start of 2025 rank third among shortstops (behind Willy Adames with 44 and Zach Neto with 43)… and he didn’t even make his MLB debut until July 4, 2025.

Murakami feels like a lock to keep producing power once he comes back since that seems to be his calling card.

It seems like the biggest unknown moving forward is Miguel Vargas. He has 18 homers through his first 80 games, which is already a new single-season career-high mark. The most dingers he’s hit in any single professional season is 23 in 2021 while playing in High-A and Double-A for the Dodgers organization as a 21-year-old. So we’ll see how much further he can push the envelope.

CSS: Davis Martin has come back to earth. Can he rediscover his unhittable early-season form?

M.M.: Martin did have a great two-month run to start the season. Two of the things he did very well were limit walks and home runs. Through the end of May, he produced a 27.0% strikeout rate, a 5.3% walk rate, and 0.40 home runs allowed per nine innings.

In June, those numbers worsened to 16.5%, 8.7%, and 1.07, respectively. For added context, his career numbers include a 19.7% strikeout rate, 7.8% walk rate, and 1.01 home runs allowed per nine innings.

Did he find another gear at the start of the year and just hit a bump in the road before adjusting again? Or was that two-month stretch a mirage and he’s regressing to his career averages? We’re about to find out.

CSS: They’ll make the postseason. Won’t they?

M.M.: With the way things have been going, I believe it’s possible! Outside of going 1-4 in March, the White Sox have played at least .500 ball in each month this season (13-13 in April, 18-10 in May, and 11-11 so far in June).

Murakami going on the injured list would’ve been a gut punch for any team after how he started the season, but the Sox have at least been able to tread water without him, since May 29.

Another thing in play here is the weakness of the American League overall. As of this writing, there are only five AL teams with at least a .500 record. The Rangers are currently holding onto the final Wild Card spot, and they have a 41-42 record.

I think there will be two postseason teams coming out of the AL East, those being the Yankees and the Rays. And it seems like the AL West will only produce one postseason team…but maybe two if someone gets hot. That could leave two spots for the AL Central, one for the division winner and another Wild Card spot. And at this point, the only deserving teams would be the Sox and the Guardians.

There’s still plenty of baseball left to be played, but Chicago has put itself in a great spot moving forward.

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LET’S PARAPHRASE one of the six-ish career press conference given by former Chicago Bulls’ Executive VP of Basketball Ops, Artūras Karnišovas, a man of few words and fewer quality ideas:

Reporter #1: Artūras, the team didn’t measure up to expectations this season. Any plan moving forward?

Karnišovas: Continuity.

[Crickets]

Reporter #2: Do you see any significant roster moves during the off-season?

Karnišovas: Maybe.

[Tumbleweeds]

Reporter #3: How about the coaching situation? Any changes on the sideline?

Karnišovas: We’ll see.

[Dead silence]

And so on.

Conversely, Karnišovas’ replacement, Bryson Graham is a talker, and, post-NBA Draft, was more happy to make the media rounds. He clogged up my Instagram feed (in a good way), so I’m going to clog up my Substack with some of his notably honest bon mots.

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WORLD CUP NOTWITHSTANDING, the end of June is arguably the year’s most boring stretch of pro sports.

• MLB and WNBA are dog daying.

• NBA is recovering from the Draft and prepping for Summer League.

• NFL is awaiting training camp.

• NHL is doing something, not sure what.

• MLS is, well, MLS.

So it’s time to hit the library.

Friends, colleagues, and reatives know I’m a big library-hitter, so I’m often asked, “Dude, give me some book recommendations.”

I looooove giving book recommendations.

So since professional sports is dullsville, and I have nothing cool about which to write, and I looooove giving book recommendations, I’m going to revisit a couple of my literature columns: A review of Chuck Klosterman’s excellent 2025 book Football, and a 2024 list of ten essential sports books.

Happy reading!

I’M A PRETTY okay writer.

Admittedly, I’m nowhere near Nick Hornby, or Lester Bangs, or Bill Simmons…but neither am I the third-grade version of myself. No, I fall somewhere in between, trending a scootch closer to Hornby than I do to Little Baby Alan.

One writer who I’m way far away from is Chuck Klosterman. Can’t touch that guy’s prose with a ten-foot IBM Selectric.

Whether or not you agree with the bestselling pop culture philosopher (The Nineties, I Wear the Black Hat, Fargo Rock City) — and he’s loaded with well-reasoned-yet-batshit-crazy takes, so there’s always plenty to agree and disagree with — you have to acknowledge that he can write his ass off. He’s one of those guys who’s so damn good that he makes us Hornby/Bangs/Simmons wannabes feel super-crappy about ourselves.

That’s very much not his intention. But there we are.

Football, Chuck’s new essay collection, is prime Klosterman: Well-written, well-reasoned, gentle, humorous, readable. It makes his out-of-left-field (or, really, out-of-the-south-end-zone) takes far more palatable than say, Skip Bayliss’. Like if Bayliss raved, “Football as we know it might not be a thing in forty years,” you’d be like, “Cram it, Skip.”

And you’d be right. Skip should cram it. But Klosterman? Bring it on.

KLOSTERMAN TRUTHERS are well aware that the Minnesota-born, North Dakota-reared scribe was one of the original writers for Bill Simmons’ Grantland, so his sports chops are impeccable — if he’s good enough for Simmons, he should be good enough for you. So while he’s not a sports-first writer, he has more than enough street cred to give us a 300-page philosophical look at the highs, middles, and lows of both NFL and NCAA pigskin.

One thing Football is not is a history of the game. Klosterman offers deep dives into some of the sports’ most indelible athletes (the Jim Thorpe, Roger Staubach, and Colin Kaepernick sections are particularly enlightening) and events (the Cowboys’ ascension to America’s Team; the books North Dallas Forty and Friday Night Lights; a fascinating, depressing breakdown of CTE), and offers a semi-off-kilter best-players-in-history list.

But if you want history, pick up Michael MacCambridge’s The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation. If you want a game overview that’s at once personal, passionate, and original, Chuck’s your guy.

In that spirit, we’re going to be original(ish), skip to the end of Football, if you will, and check Chuck’s look at how the NFL and NCAA of today will be wildly different than what we see in 40 or 50 years.

Klosterman contends that the game he loves — and the former high school player spends a good 50,000 words gushing about the sport and its players (spoiler alert: dude digs Jim Brown) — is showing cracks, cracks far deeper than you’d believe, cracks that will sooner-than-later break under the pressure of greed, television contracts, NIL, and parental fear.

His epic take is on the convoluted side — Klosterman, to his credit, makes it clear on multiple occasions the he isn’t even sure he agrees with himself — but he makes convincing arguments as to how and why high school football will be toast, and the NCAA will become a collection of 774 minor league football affiliates, and the modern version of the NFL will end in a strike/lockout maelstrom.

The biggest shocker is he feels American tastes and attitudes will have changed to the point that far fewer fans than you’d expect will care.

Like me, Klosterman is a football nerd — although unlike me, his nerddom extends to college pigskin — and isn’t happy about dropping this future-thought death-knell. But only a truly passionate football nerd — and a football nerd who, not insignificantly, writes his ass off — can make this sort of nutty prognostication logical, palatable, and flat-out entertaining.

I READ BOOKS.

A lot.

I read fiction. I read non-fiction. I read new stuff. I read old stuff. I read good stuff. I read crap stuff. I read award winners. I read cheese.

And I read about sports.

A lot.

This is why I’m painfully aware that the modern sports literature canon isn’t as rich as one might think. Sure, there are dozens and dozens of baseball, basketball, and football titles published each year, but few resonate beyond their immediate release.

Then when you get niche about the whole thing — when you focus on one narrow aspect of the sports literature canon — it gets even more difficult to find true gems. (Unless you’re a fan of the Bronx Bombers. There are too many damn good books about those damn Yankees.)

But for my chosen niche — Chicago sports books, natch — I was fortunate in that there are plenty of gleaming gems to choose from. Here are my ten shiniest:

10) Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior

Phil Jackson

Hyperion Books, 1998

Elevator Pitch: NBA Zen Master mines his Chicago Bulls journey to teach mindfulness.

The Skinny: It’s pretentious, it’s meandering, and it’s extra, but if you, like me, have an affinity for the Deadheady Bulls-era Jackson (as opposed to the cranky Lakers-era Jackson), Sacred Hoops is un-put-down-able. Admittedly it doesn’t hold up well — you don’t see much in the way of spirituality in professional sports these days — but it’ll always have a spot in the hearts of us Bulls-ficionados.

9) The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse

Rich Cohen

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017

Elevator Pitch: The Cubs sucked. Then they didn’t. Here’s the ride.

The Skinny: The contemporary professor emeritus of Chicago sports lit used the Cubs’ 2016 World Series run as a launching point for the tale of both the team and his own frustrating lifelong relationship with the franchise. A lovely meditation on fandom and patience.

8) Wrigleyville: A Magical History Tour of the Chicago Cubs

Peter Golenbock

St. Martin’s Griffin, 1992

Elevator Pitch: The Wrigley Field bleachers, in book form.

The Skinny: I think we can all agree that if you put together a collection of history’s greatest baseball writers, Roger Angell would sit atop the list — but the prolific Golenbock would certainly hit the top ten. Here, on one of the rare occasions the New York native didn’t write about the Mets or the Yankees, Golenbock illustrates why we stick with the Cubs through thick and thin. Mostly thin.

7) Da Bears!: How the 1985 Monsters of the Midway Became the Greatest Team in NFL History

Steve Delsohn

Crown Archetype, 2010

Elevator Pitch: To quoth the subtitle: How the 1985 Monsters of the Midway became the greatest team in NFL history

The Skinny: After the Bears won the 1985 Super Bowl, Chicago bookshelves were clogged with titles about the team and/or by its players. But most of those are garbage, and Delsohn’s — what with it’s no-frills, light-hearted rundown of the whole season — is most definitely not.

6) Blood on the Horns: The Long Strange Ride of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls

Roland Lazenby

Taylor Trade Publishing, 1998

Elevator Pitch: Michael Jordan wasn’t as nice as you thought.

The Skinny: Lazenby wrote two wonderful books about the Bulls: This 1998 behind-the-scenes romp and his epic 2014 Michael Jordan bio. I had to choose one, so I went with gossipy rather than serious.

5) Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan and the World He Made

David Halberstam

Broadway Books, 2000

Elevator Pitch: The Jumpman gets the Halberstam treatment

The Skinny: Playing for Keeps isn’t Halberstam’s best sports book — that honor goes to, of course, The Breaks of the Game — but if you want to re-live M.J.’s Bulls career in an academic yet engaging fashion, here ya go.

4) Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

Jeff Pearlman

Gotham Books, 2011

Elevator Pitch: You thought you knew the Chicago Bears legend. Well, you don’t.

The Skinny: Pearlman has proven time and again he can discover stuff about athletes that you can’t. His justifiably acclaimed bio of the greatest running back of all time — sorry, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Jim Brown, but you know I’m right — is a haunting portrait of a wonderful man who wasn’t quite as happy as he seemed.

3) Eight Men Out: Black Sox and 1919 Series

Eliot Asinof

Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1963

Elevator Pitch: A devastating gambling tale ripped from the headlines of yesteryear.

The Skinny: I read Asinof’s heartbreaking story of Shoeless Joe Jackson’s gamblin’ Sox when I was, like, seven, and it made little-to-no sense. When I read it ten years later, I was like, “This is the best baseball book I’ve read, and will possibly ever read.” I’ll stand by that.

2) The Jordan Rules: The Inside Story of One Turbulent Season with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

Sam Smith

Simon & Schuster, 1992

Elevator Pitch: Michael Jordan punched out Steve Kerr. Enough said.

The Skinny: Sometimes you love something because you discovered it during a special time in your life, and that’s exactly the case here. Critics probably believe that Smith’s dishy debut shouldn’t be in the top ten — and it definitely shouldn’t be ahead of Eight Men Out — but this eminently readable tome dropped during the Jordan/Pippen/Grant-era Bulls, a special time in my sports-viewing life, thus it’s my jam.

1) Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football

Rich Cohen

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013

Elevator Pitch: How the NFL’s most frustrating franchise finally won a Super Bowl.

The Skinny: The professor emeritus is back, and this time, he’s on top. This memoir-slash-history is exceptionally relatable to me as Cohen and I are about the same vintage, we both grew up on the North Shore of Chicago, and when the Bears won the 1985 Super Bowl, both of our heads exploded. But unlike me, Cohen had the wherewithal (and the memory) to write the definitive book on the Chicago Bears — and possibly Chicago sports.

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ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 24, 2026, the final night of this year’s NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls traded out of the second round, sending their two selections — picks 38 and 56 — to, respectively, the Indiana Pacers and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In addition to some future pick-swaps, the Bulls received a soon-to-be-demoted-to-the-G-League guard (Kam Jones), a fruit basket, six copies of the new Stephen King book, and a box of staplers…as well as a few bucks, total unknown.

In basketball parlance, “a few bucks” translates to “cash considerations.”

As seen on social media, isn’t a new thing for Chicago:

Last night, there were exactly eight-billion similar tweets. I counted.

After I counted said eight-billion tweets, my team did some digging to find out exactly how many times since the 2000 NBA seasons the Bulls have made cash considerations part of a deal.

Even though we likely missed one or two, the sheer number of money-centric transaction is dizzying:

1) JUNE 28, 2000

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS RECEIVE

• Draft rights to Chris Mihm

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Draft rights to Jamal Crawford

• Cash considerations

2) FEBRUARY 18, 2009

SACRAMENTO KINGS RECEIVE

• Drew Gooden

• Andrés Nocioni

• Cedric Simmons

• Michael Ruffin

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Brad Miller

• John Salmons

• Cash considerations

3) FEBRUARY 22, 2011

TORONTO RAPTORS RECEIVE

• James Johnson

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• 2011 first-round pick

• Cash considerations

4) JULY 7, 2016

ATLANTA HAWKS RECEIVE

• Kyle Korver

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Cash considerations

5) SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS RECEIVE

• Ater Majok

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Quincy Pondexter

• 2018 second-round pick

• Cash considerations

6) FEBRUARY 8, 2018

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS RECEIVE

• Draft rights to Milovan Raković

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Noah Vonleh

• Cash considerations

7) JANUARY 7, 2019

HOUSTON ROCKETS RECEIVE

• Michael Carter-Williams

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• 2020 second-round pick

• Cash considerations

8) JANUARY 22, 2019

HOUSTON ROCKETS RECEIVE

• Carmelo Anthony

• Draft rights to Jon Diebler

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Draft rights to Tadija Dragićević

• Cash considerations

9) FEBRUARY 1, 2019

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER RECEIVE

• Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• 2020 second-round pick

• Cash considerations

10) MARCH 25, 2021

BOSTON CELTICS RECEIVE

• Luke Kornet

• Moritz Wagner

WASHINGTON WIZARDS RECEIVE

• Daniel Gafford

• Chandler Hutchison

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Daniel Theis

• Troy Brown Jr.

• Javonte Green

• Cash considerations

11) AUGUST 7, 2021

HOUSTON ROCKETS RECEIVE

• Daniel Theis

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Cash considerations

12) JULY 24, 2024

SACRAMENTO KINGS RECEIVE

• DeMar DeRozan

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Chris Duarte

• Cash considerations

• 2025 second-round pick

• 2028 second-round pick

13) JUNE 27, 2025

LOS ANGELES LAKERS RECEIVE

• 2025 NBA Draft Pick (No. 45 → No. 55 swap)

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Cash considerations

14) JUNE 24, 2026

LOS ANGELES LAKERS RECEIVE

• 2026 NBA Draft Pick (No. 56)

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Cash considerations

15) JUNE 24, 2026

INDIANA PACERS RECEIVE

• 2026 NBA Draft Pick (No. 38 — Braden Smith)

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Kam Jones

• Cash considerations

• 2028 second-round pick swap

• 2030 second-round pick swap

  ---

The Chicago Sports Stuff abacus tells us that adds up to 15.

The Chicago Sports Stuff research crew tells us that calculating a per-team league average number of cash-considerations-laden deals would take about three months, and I don’t pay them enough to dive into that Herculean task, but based on a cursory peek, the NBA average lands between nine and 11. They then noted that 15 is more than either nine or 11.

The Chicago Sports Stuff research crew also tells us that over this 25-season stretch, the Bulls’ regular season win-loss record is 993–1,178 (.457), ranking them 20th in the league, with a playoff win-loss record of 40–56 (.417), landing them in the 25th postseason spot.

So it’s no surprise the Chicago Sports Stuff logic department tells us that trading for cash considerations is, in a word, dumb.

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LET’S GET three things out of the way…

THING #1: MY 2026 MOCK TRADES SUCKED

For the last month, I had the Chicago Bulls absurdly active on NBA Draft night, trading everybody from Patrick Williams (if only) to Matas Buzelis to Josh Giddey. Nary a deal was made. D’oh.

THING #2: MY 2026 MOCK DRAFTS SUCKED

I didn’t blow it on Chicago’s first pick, Caleb Wilson, but literally every person on the planet had the Bulls selecting the bouncy North Carolina product at the four-spot in their mocks, so whatever. As for their second first-round pick (15), I mocked everybody from Yaxel Lendeborg to Cameron Carr to Aday Mara landing in Chicago. The one guy I didn’t see coming was Texas wing Dailyn Swain. Who the Bulls selected. D’oh again.

THING #3: MY BULLS DRAFT GRADES

Wilson — who has as legit shot to be the best player in the draft — was a no-brainer, and if I were a GM who held the Draft’s top spot, I’d have considered taking him up top. Just like Emma Stone’s best movie, this one’s an easy A.

Until I saw Bill Simmons’ take on Swain — King Ringer comped him with Kawhi Leonard — I graded the wing at C-. But Mr. Bill knows of what he speaks, so I’ll amp that up to a B.

Now that all my embarrassing mock confessions are out of the way, let’s see how ten high-IQ pundits graded out the Chicago Bulls’ picks in the first round from the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Athletic: John Hollinger

Wilson: A

“The only logical pick after the top three names were off the board. Wilson has some positional overlaps with Matas Buzelis, the Bulls’ other best young player, but long term, they could be a towering pair of above-the-rim bookend forwards … as long as at least one of the two becomes a reliable shooter.”

Swain: A-

“I had Swain as a big sleeper in my draft board at No. 14. He went 15th. It’s a little bit of a triggering moment for Bulls fans who saw the team whiff on countless ‘intriguing’ wing and forward prospects under the previous regime, but Swain is far enough along offensively that I’m relatively confident he can be a plus rotation player, if not a starter at some point.”

Bleacher Report: Zach Buckley

Wilson: A

“The first major move for new Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham should’ve been a stress-free one. Based on how the three picks went, Chicago doing anything other than taking Caleb Wilson here would’ve been jaw-dropping. Wilson might be the only player in this draft who has an entire prospect tier to himself. His flaws (while perhaps fixable) were too clear to slot him into the top three, but his strengths were too numerous to bump him down any further. So, it’s basically the three blue-chippers, then Wilson, and then everyone else. He is the best athlete in this draft and might have the best motor, too. That’s an awesome combination, and he puts it to use on highlight hammers, how-did-he-get-that?! rebounds and transition finishes. More subtle skills so far elude him, though. He is unproven as a shooter, loose with the ball, can be sped up with his decision-making, and he is a little behind with his defensive awareness. His growth as a shot-creator and scorer will determine whether he’ll wind up leading the next era of Bulls’ basketball, but he is certain to play a major part in it regardless.”

Swain: C+

“Chicago’s vision for a longer, more athletic and more disruptive roster is coming together. Dailyn Swain is one of the SLAP-pier prospects left on the board, so he certainly fits the preferred model for the Bulls’ new front office. Swain was a regular paint visitor in college and a tremendous finisher around the rim. Both of those traits could translate to the NBA. And his slashing is even more potent than it sounds, too, since he’s a slick passer for his size and archetype. He has enough tools to be a sturdy defender and defensive playmaker. Can he shoot, though? That’s his biggest question, and it’ll be one of the bigger swing skills in this prospect pool. Swain’s mechanics look funky, and the results aren’t great. If he doesn’t demand attention on the perimeter, he’ll have trouble sniffing out attack lanes he’s otherwise ready to exploit. Had Swain landed elsewhere, maybe his shooting concerns wouldn’t have loomed quite as large. The spacing already looks tight in Chicago, though, so there will be real urgency for Swain to expand his range sooner than later.”

CBS Sports: Adam Finkelstein

Wilson: A

“Wilson was the fairly obvious choice here. He has legit star-type outcome and potential. He's the most explosive athlete in the draft with a big-time motor and unusual elasticity (or bend) for a player his size. At North Carolina, Wilson was farther along offensively than expected and yet has immense room for progress, not just with his perimeter skill-set, but even his defensive polish. Those tools should check a lot of boxes for new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham.”

Swain: C

“Swain is a high-upside big wing who puts pressure on the rim, has all the tools to blossom into an elite defender, and significant upside if he proves to be more of a primary creator. The questions are the shooting and the high turnover rate. Swain checks a lot of boxes as a defensive-oriented big wing who can play off the bounce, pressure the rim, and provide some secondary creation. He has the two-way versatility and the potential to play multiple positions with his perimeter size, 6-10 wingspan, and on-ball creation. If he proves to be a jumbo initiator, rather than a slashing wing, it changes his upside.

Clutch Points: Brett Siegel

Wilson: A

“Bryson Graham made it clear when he took the Chicago Bulls’ lead executive job that he wanted to add SLAP to the roster: Size, length, athleticism, and physicality. He now gets all four of those, and then some, with Caleb Wilson in the draft. Wilson is probably the most driven player in this entire draft class in the sense that he always finds something to motivate him. This guy is a freak athlete who has the tools to be an absolute menace on defense, and he doesn’t care whether he’s going up against the last-place team in the NBA or the best. They are all the same to him — an obstacle to get past in order to win. Between his length and pure power as a playmaker on offense, Wilson checks all the boxes for what teams are looking for in a modern-day, versatile forward. With Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Nic Claxton, and now Wilson, the Bulls already have a ton of length in their starting rotation.”

Swain: B+

“Here is where the draft starts getting interesting. The Bulls could’ve gone in a multitude of directions with this pick after selecting Wilson earlier, but with the Michigan guys off the board, along with Steinbach going one pick above them, the Bulls are taking a chance on an athletic two-way wing in Dailyn Swain. New executive Bryson Graham made it clear he wanted to add length, athleticism, and size at every position, and Swain adds this on the wing. He is a very strong wing rebounder, and Swain has the tools to grow into a very impactful and explosive two-way wing for years to come.”

FanSided: Christopher Kline

Wilson: A+

“Another no-brainer — and another home run selection. The Bulls really couldn’t get this pick wrong. Caleb Wilson‘s season was cut short by a freak hand injury, but he was incredibly dominant on both ends of the floor for North Carolina. He’s a trampoline athlete, dunking everything and creating frequent disruptions as a defender. Wilson can slide his feet out in space. He has the length to protect the rim in drop, but he’s especially fruitful as a weak-side roamer. He crashes the glass. There are hints of shooting touch. He will need to refine his ball skills and decision-making, but the ceiling is the sky. Chicago’s next chapter is off to an killer start.”

Swain: A+

“Dailyn Swain was FanSided’s No. 8 prospect, in the same tier (for me) as Kingston Flemings, Mikel Brown Jr. and several lottery guards. He’s an awesome slasher with bendy handles and excellent touch at the rim, which Chicago certainly hopes will translate to more consistent results from 3-point range down the road. He needs to iron out his clunky mechanics, but Swain presents a unique blend of size, ball-handling craft and rim pressure on the wing. He has the chance to blossom into a significant contributor for the new-look Bulls.”

NBC Sports: Kurt Helin

Wilson: A

“The last time Chicago drafted a North Carolina star near the top of the NBA Draft, things worked out pretty well for them.”

Swain: B+

“Swain is a fantastic athlete and slasher who needs to develop his jump shot, improve his decision making and more. All that development of really athletic forwards is something Chicago has historically struggled with, but [head coach Tiago] Splitter deserves a chance to change the narrative.”

SB Nation: Ricky O’Donnell

Wilson: A

“This was the easiest pick in the draft. Wilson turned the big three into a big four during an electric freshman year at North Carolina, where he established himself as the draft’s most explosive athlete. Wilson dunked the hell out of the ball at every opportunity this past season with 67 slams in 24 games. His playmaking also looked far better than other freak athletes in his mold. If he can make any sort of leap as an outside shooter or ball handler, it could take his offense to the next level. It will also be fascinating to monitor his defense after a freshman year full of highlight reel takeaways that also included some ugly lapses of ball watching.”

Swain: B+

“Swain was a very good defender his first two years at Xavier, and he blossomed into a deadly slasher upon transferring to Texas. His self-creation leap gives him some sneaky upside in this class. His three-point shot will remain a question with a slower, hitch-y release, but it’s worth noting he did make 32 threes at a 34.8 percent clip after only making 11 threes in his first two college seasons combined. His driving, playmaking, and defense makes him a worthy selection in this range of the draft.”

Sporting News: Stephen Noah

Wilson: A

“Wilson is the last no-brainer pick on the board. He was a dunking machine and unstoppable in transition, leading to excellent production at a young age. While he doesn’t have the best defensive technique, he has the tools to be an All-Defensive player in a few years under a good player development staff. He has the two-way upside to be a potential No. 1 pick in a normal draft. Chicago has needed a prospect with All-NBA upside on its roster for a while now. Wilson will fall into a good offensive system, with a young roster and a point guard in Josh Giddey that loves to push the pace. He will reinvigorate a fan base that should fall in love with his ability to generate highlights every night.”

Swain: A

“Swain is an interesting two-way wing prospect. He was a good defender at Xavier, but he fell off on that end of the floor with a much larger offensive role at Texas last season. He should be solid on that end in the NBA. Swain was a rim pressure machine at Texas, showing special skill and handle as a driver. He’s not a proven shooter, hitting 34 percent of his 3’s last season, and the Bulls do have some spacing issues in their lineup. But this was the best pick that Chicago could make, picking up a player with a high floor and decent upside.”

USA Today: Bryan Kalbrosky

Wilson: A+

“With his first pick running the front office for the Bulls, executive Bryson Graham had a simple task: Pick whichever player of the “big four” was still remaining on the board once on the clock. However, based on what he said the team is looking for, Caleb Wilson is actually a perfect fit. The Bulls now value size, physicality and athleticism. Each of those traits are intrinsic to Wilson, who led the nation in dunks before he suffered a season-ending injury during his one-and-done campaign. A potential All-Defense candidate in the NBA, Wilson is also a capable leader who still has room to showcase new skills outside of the post in the pros.”

Swain: B

“Dailyn Swain went a bit higher than most experts projected when he heard his name called at No. 15 overall, though he absolutely earned this placement. The SEC Newcomer of the Year is a do-it-all player who can contribute well on both sides of the ball. Something unique about Swain is that despite three years of NCAA experience, he is just 20 years old, the same age as some freshmen in the class. Swain improved his shooting each year in college, though he was still worse than positional average from beyond the arc. If that keeps getting better, this is a great pick. Otherwise, it was still a worthy gamble.”

Yahoo Sports: Kevin O’Connor

Wilson: A+

“Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He’s 6-foot-9 with springs for legs. When he’s flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. That’s exactly what the Bulls need in the frontcourt. After acquiring Nic Claxton from Brooklyn on Monday, the Bulls now have five players in Claxton, Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Noa Essengue, who could in theory switch across positions. The Bulls are massive, athletic, and Wilson can be the centerpiece who becomes one of those defensive anchors while also adding even more upside offensively. For Wilson to reach his peak, though, he’ll need to figure out how to shoot jumpers. He has shot well in pre-draft workouts, per sources. Even without the jumper, though, he has star upside. Chicago has to be ecstatic he was on the board here with the fourth choice.”

Swain: A+

“After taking Wilson with the No. 4 pick, the Bulls get a potential steal here. Swain is relentless getting to the rim, creative as a finisher, and active enough defensively to project as a switchable wing. But the reason he lives at the rim is because his jump shot is genuinely terrible. He has stiff mechanics, bad percentages, and a reluctance to even attempt it that goes all the way back to high school. He made improvements at Texas, though, so there’s hope his soft touch at the line and from the paint will eventually translate.”

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LISTEN, I like Josh Giddey.

And you like Josh Giddey.

But the NBA standings don’t like Josh Giddey.

Sure, his Chicago career averages flirt with a triple-double (17.0 points, 8.0 assists, 8.2 rebounds), but as impressive as those digits look, they’ve have had little impact on winning, as Giddey boasts a -20.2 win share, ranking him in somewhere between 100 - 125th in the league.

A quick peek at the Chicago Sports Stuff abacus tells us there are 60 starting guards in the NBA. Not optimal.

Simply put, the 23-year-old Aussie isn’t on the right team. The Bulls need speed and tenacity, not methodical jogging.

To that end, with the 2026 NBA Draft mere hours away, today is the perfect day to ship Giddey to parts unknown and turn the keys to the car over to one of this draft’s more point guard-y point guards, a floor general who’s both athletic and passionate (or at least willing) to bust ass on defense.

Here’re a trio of Giddey deals that might make sense for all teams involved. Admittedly, they lean in the Bulls’ favor, but my Substack, my scenarios.

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Nicolas Batum

• Derrick Jones Jr.

• Clippers 2026 first-round pick (5)

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS RECEIVE

• Josh Giddey

• Bulls 2026 first-round pick (15)

• Bulls 2026 second-round pick (56)

There’s been a ton of smoke around Keaton-Wagler-to-Chicago — he worked out for the Bulls, and that was pretty much it — so if Chicago’s VP of Ops Bryson Graham can peel the five-pick from the Clips, both he and the former Illini guard will be happy dudes.

Chicago would have to suck up a pair of meh contracts for two more years — Batum is earning $5 million, while Jones is hoovering up $10 million — but having these of savvy vets in the locker room wouldn’t be a terrible thing for a Bulls core that could average somewhere around 22-years-old.

As for the Clips, this will give them the flexibility to move on from Darius Garland, who, like Giddey in Chicago, doesn’t seem like a great fit. And it’s not like whoever L.A. drafts at 15 would be a scrub, so it’s possible, just possible, that everybody will be happy.

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Zach LaVine

• Sacramento 2026 first-round pick (7)

SACRAMENTO KINGS RECEIVE

• Josh Giddey

• Patrick Williams

• Chicago 2026 first-round pick (15)

This, kiddies, is my dream scenario, primarily because Williams — my least favorite Bull in franchise history — would be gone-zo.

LaVine would be a rental — he’ll be an unrestricted free agent after this season — and could either be another savvy vet or a fantastic trade deadline chip. Besides, we all love Zach, right?

Bryson Graham would probably miss out on Wagler, but Darius Acuff Jr. would look awfully good in the red-and-black…maybe even better than Keaton.

Sactown would be taking a gamble that Williams wouldn’t be as garbage as he is here in Chicago, and the four years left on his contract aren’t super-appealing, but as of this writing, a near-washed Russell Westbrook is the first point on their depth chart, and let’s be honest, here: The Kings haven’t had a quality point since Mike Bibby, and Giddey could be That Guy, so the Kings might be willing to suck it up.

CHICAGO BULLS RECEIVE

• Corey Kispert

• Zaccharie Risacher

• Atlanta 2026 first-round pick (8)

ATLANTA HAWKS RECEIVE

• Josh Giddey

• Chicago 2026 first-round pick (15)

• Chicago 2026 second round pick (56)

Of these three fake trades, this might be the most realistic, as the divide between the eighth and 15th picks isn’t massive — but it would allow Chicago to land Kingston Flemings, arguably the best pure point in the draft.

The Hawks would roll into the season with a starting backcourt of Giddey and C.J. McCollum, backed up by super-sub Nickeil Alexander-Walker and new arrival Aaron Wiggins. Feels like a win-win.

P.S.: If Graham can find a way to saddle Atlanta with Patrick Williams, Bulls Nation’s collective head would explode.

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WHEN WE CHICAGOANS get an NBA push notification from ESPN or The Athletic announcing a transaction, we expect to see one of two things:

1. The Bulls made a dumbass trade.

2. The Bulls didn’t make any trade.

Last night, while the Chicago Sports Stuff staff was off in La La Land, the above go-to sports platforms sent out a push that checked neither of those boxes, reporting that in a three-team deal, the Minnesota Timberwolves received the Brooklyn Nets’ 2026 second-round pick (28), the Nets landed Julius Randle and Minnesota’s 2026 first-round pick (28), and, in their the role as kindly facilitator, the Bulls welcomed Nic Claxton and bid adieu to Mo Gueye (who?).

Of the three teams involved, the Bulls appear to be the only one who improved themselves on the court now. Yes, Wolves cleaned up their messy bank account (sort of), so bully for them, while, in a classic Nets head-scratching move, Brooklyn brought in a player entering his age-31 season, coming off of a solid but unspectacular year.

For Minnesota, the deal opens up starters minutes for the surging Jaden McDaniels and the wildly underappreciated Naz Reid, plus it cleared enough cap space so they could re-up Ayo Dosunmu to the tune of five-year and $112 million, nifty addition by subtraction. And let’s be honest, here: Randle is an empty-points machine who’s, at best, casually acquainted with playing defense, and wouldn’t help Minny get past Oklahoma City or San Antonio out west.

No need to deep dive the Nets side of things. Suffice it to say that Randle — who’s owed almost $70 million over the next two years (yikes) — won’t drag Brooklyn to the playoffs, plus they had to give up the younger, productive Nic Claxton in the process. Oy gevalt.

Enter the Chicago Bulls.

Claxton — who, as noted, the Bulls landed for practically nothing, making thing whole thing basically a sneaky free agent signing — ain’t Bill Russell, but, statistically speaking, he is Isaiah Hartenstein, an OKC free agent with a team option who, if he rejects Thunder’s qualifying offer (likely) would’ve been a more expensive, slightly older (28) option for Chicago.

A quality player on both ends of the court, Claxton’s arrival gives the Bulls flexibility in terms of the draft (they don’t have to select very tall former Michigan Wolverine Aday Mara) and free agency (no need to throw a ton of bread at Walker Kessler). Their remaining $30 million in cap space should allow them to afford a Peyton Watson — fingers crossed, that’s my guy — or a Tari Eason, both of whom fit Chicago’s timeline, with Watson clocking in at 23-years-old, and Eason, 25.

Assuming the Bulls, as expected, draft bouncy former North Carolina with their first-round pick (4) tonight — and they listen to me and sign Watson — the starting lineup could look a little something like this:

• PG: Josh Giddey

• SG: Peyton Watson

• SF: Matas Buzelis

• PF: Caleb Wilson

• C: Nic Claxton

Average age: 22.6. Sweet.

And if they can dump Giddey for another top-ten draft pick and nab one of the prospective stud point guards — former Illini point Keaton Wagler, for instance — they’ll get even younger.

Whether it’s Giddey, Wagler, Darius Acuff Jr. (my other guy) running the point, this wouldn’t be a playoff team — 37 wins feels about right — but they’ll be fun to watch, and that’s something we Bulls nerds haven’t had for a good, long while.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: You know how some outlets say, “The news never sleeps”? Well, Chicago Sports Stuff does sleep, and while we were counting sheep, the Chicago Bulls acquired center Nic Claxton from the Nets, while the Miami Heat sent a haul of players and picks to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, thus rendering the below mock draft more or less moot. I made a few tweaks to account for the moves — very few — but there are some solid jokes in here, so I’m leaving it up on the site. Enjoy, and don’t judge me for sleeping.

I DON’T ASK for much.

Give me couple of good electric basses, a quality pizza, and some nice Chicago spring weather, and I’m a happy fella.

Oh, and some luck and/or a few smart decisions from my Windy City sports squads wouldn’t suck, either.

Especially from the Chicago Bulls.

Right now, we’re at a legitimate pivot point in franchise history: New coach, new front office, eminently replaceable roster, two high draft picks in a loaded class, and an absurdly advantageous salary cap.

You almost never see this kind of blank slate in the NBA.

The Bulls roll into this evening’s first round of the NBA Draft holding the fourth and 15th picks, and the general consensus amongst draft smarty-pantses is that new GM Bryson Graham will snatch up bouncy North Carolina big Caleb Wilson with their first selection, and then the best guard or wing available at 15.

And that would be fine. But it wouldn’t be enough.

Y’see, their current roster is a mismatched mess, and every player should be on the block, Matas Buzelis included. Ownership fired and replaced the old guard (finally), so why not take the next step and get new furniture, repaint the walls, and start from scratch. It worked for Oklahoma City, didn’t it?

If Graham has the imagination and balls to blow it up, tonight could be one helluva ride…but I don’t think he does.

Walking away from night one of the proceedings with Wilson and a wing seems fait accompli, and would be all fine and swell, but I don’t think it’s fine and swell enough.

Me, I have balls and imagination to blow it up. Here, buried in my final mock draft of the cycle, is how I’d reinvent a Bulls team that’s desperate for reinvention.

1) Washington Wizards

Darryn Peterson, G, Kansas

Okay, hear me out.

Everybody, their mother, their father, and their fifth cousin twice removed have A.J. Dybansta as the first player off the board. And everybody, their mother, their father, and their fifth cousin twice removed are nervous about Peterson’s weirdo 2025 season (cramps, missed games, blah blah blah.)

Pour moi, what tilts it in Peterson’s direction is competition. In 2025, as per Warren Nolan, Peterson’s Jayhawks were stuck with the NCAA’s 11th-most difficult schedule, while Dybansta’s Cougars clocked in at 45.

All things equal — and if you take the cramps out of the mix, they kind of are equal — you grab the guy who’s (sort of) been there and done that.

2) Utah Jazz

Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke

Generally speaking, Utah GM Danny Ainge is swing-for-the-fences kind of gent, but his Jazz, well, they stink, and Boozer could be Karl Malone 2.0, and the Jazz haven’t had a Karl Malone-type since the days of, um, Karl Malone. Booz is a day-one starter, and day-one stud, and would look smashing next to Lauri Markkanen.

(For what it’s worth, Boozer’s Dookies played the 53rd strongest schedule in 2025. Do with that information what you will.)

3) Memphis Grizzlies

A.J. Dybansta, SF, BYU

This isn’t an Aaron Rodgers-level draft night fall, but if AJD makes it to the three-spot, it’ll be kind of a shocker, which will thrill Memphis’ fans and front office to no end.

Like each of the draft’s top four teams, the Grizz need help up and down the roster — not to mention a star who doesn’t have a gun fetish (we’re talking to you, Ja Morant) — and Dybansta will be that guy a breath of fresh air, and a walking bucket.

4) Chicago Bulls

Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina

Last week, Draymond Green said on his podcast that Wilson’s floor, his floor, is Kevin Garnett…and Draymond Green never says anything nice about anybody. Me, I’m right with Dr. Dray, so much so that if I had the draft’s top spot, I’d seriously consider snatching up the spring-loaded Tar Heel.

There’s an excellent chance Wilson will end up as the best player from this draft, and Bulls will be lucky to get him into the building.

5) Los Angeles Clippers

Keaton Wagler, PG, Illinois

If the Clips aren’t in love with Darius Garland (which would be understandable), they could grab Wagler and ship out Garland for a low-end starter and a low-first-round pick. Even if Wagler isn’t a huge improvement over Garland, he’ll be on a rookie deal, whereas Garland will be looking for big bucks when his contract is up after the 2027-28 season.

TRADE

Chicago Bulls receive

• Terance Mann

• Brooklyn 2026 first-round pick (6)

Brooklyn Nets receive

• Josh Giddey

• Chicago 2026 first-round pick (15)

6) Chicago Bulls

Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Arkansas

Josh Giddey is the next-gen Zach LaVine, an excellent NBA player, a fine human, an expert in racking up empty stats, and an eternal trade candidate

Right now, every Bulls fan reading this is all like, “But Alan, he’s a walking triple-double,” to which I say, “Josh’s career win share is -20.7, which lands him around 125th place over that stretch, and Acuff is younger, cheaper, and likely better, so suck it, you Giddey truthers.”

As for Terance Mann, whatevs, he’ll get traded for an expandable rando like Royce O’Neal or Caleb Martin by Wednesday afternoon.

7) Sacramento Kings

Mikel Brown Jr., PG, Louisville

The Kings have holes, old dudes, and bad contracts all over their roster, but the backcourt is especially ancient (Russell Westbrook) and overpaid (Zach LaVine), so nabbing a guard seems fait accompli. It’ll likely come down to Brown, Kingston Flemings, or Braden Burries, any of whom will likely thrive, but like Dybansta, Brown’s floor-ceiling divide is a scootch more attractive.

8) Atlanta Hawks

Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston

The only true point guard on the Hawks’ roster is Gabe Vincent and, well, he’s Gabe Vincent. The feisty Flemings would slide neatly into the starting five, and would look smashing next to C.J. McCollum.

9) Dallas Mavericks

Brayden Burries, SG, Arkansas

The only thing the Mavs should care about — the only thing — is bringing in somebody who has the best chance of thriving alongside Cooper Flagg. Not only could Burries be that guy, but Dallas happens to have a gaping hole at the two-spot, so if he’s still on the board, done deal.

10) Milwaukee Bucks

Nate Ament, PF, Tennessee

Bucks fans have to wrap their heads around the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo is outta there, thus the team all but has to go big. Ament is a polarizing player — he could climb to seven, he could fall to 15, neither of which would surprise anybody, and either of which wouldn’t be unfair — but if he lives up to his best scouting reports, it’ll be a spot-on choice.

11) Golden State Warriors

Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor

Is this too high for Carr? Maybe, but the Dubs have to start planning for their post-Steph life, and Carr lit it up during the combine, likely playing himself into the lottery. Some might feel snatching Carr at 11 might be a reach…but some also thought that snatching Curry at eight back in 2009 was a reach, and that worked out pretty well.

TRADE

Chicago Bulls receive

• Kenrich Williams

• Nikola Topic

• Oklahoma City’s 2026 first-round draft pick (12)

Oklahoma City Thunder receive

• Patrick Williams

• Chicago’s 2027 second-round pick

• Chicago’s 2028 first-round pick

12) Chicago Bulls

Aday Mara, C, Michigan

Would the Thunder pull the trigger on this trade? Hells nah, but this is my dream scenario, my Substack, and my mock, so nyah nyah nyah.

If Chicago can somehow shed Williams’ god-awful contract (and, for that matter, his god-awful skill-set) while landing a center who could become the modern version of Artis Gilmore, LFG [insert rocket emoji here].

13) Miami Heat

Yaxel Lendeborg, PF/SF, Michigan

In this scenario, Pat Riley and Erik Spolestra would have the difficult decision of which Michigan Wolverine to choose, Lendeborg or Morez Johnson Jr. Either would be a worthy selection, but we’ll give Yax the edge because let’s be honest, here: Resurgent Norman Powell doesn’t have a lot of Clyde Drexler left in him.

14) Charlotte Hornets

Jayden Quinstance., C, Kentucky

If the medicals turn out to be legitimately clean and Quinstance is fully healthy, this would be an ideal fit for player and team. Both Quinstance and the Hornets are athletic and have some rather large shoulder-chips, plus the Bugs have a rather large hole in the paint — a Moussa Diabate-Ryan Kalkbrenner center combination ain’t gonna take ‘em next level — so win-win.

15) Brooklyn Nets

Morez Johnson Jr., PF/C, Michigan

The Nets need talent at every position, and Johnson is talented AF. If they wrap this draft with Johnson and Giddey in tow, bully for them.

IN THIS DREAM DRAFT, here’s how the 2026 Chicago Bulls’ roster might look:

PG

• Darius Acuff Jr.

• Tre Jones

• Rob Dillingham

SG

• Peyton Watson (free agent)

• Ayo Dosunmu (free agent)

• Isaac Okoro

SF

• Matas Buzelis

• Ousmane Dieng (free agent)

PF

• Caleb Wilson

• Leonard Miller

• Noa Essengue

C

• Aday Mara

• Jalen Smith

Far from perfect, but at an average age of 22.2, it’s a start.

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QUOTH AMY WINEHOUSE, “Anything could happen, and it usually does.”

Except when it doesn’t.

To that end, it looks like that at some point tomorrow night around 8:00 p.m. ET, NBA Commish Adam Silver will proclaim, “With the fourth pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select Caleb Wilson out of North Carolina.”

So that could happen. Unless it doesn’t.

But according to every NBA Draft pundit ever, it probably will, and that’s perfectly fine. Wilson has been comped to stars Kevin Garnett, Kawhi Leonard, and Chris Bosh, none of which is an unrealistic take. And no offense to Rob Dillingham, but the Bulls could sure use some star-power.

Wilson has springs for legs, he’s hungry, and he can play some defense, and yes, he needs to improve outside of the paint — his three-point shot is pretty dang iffy — but the Bulls aren’t in any rush. Unless Derrick Rose and Michael Jordan finds the fountain of youth and are both willing to work for free, the Bulls aren’t getting by the New York Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, or the Boston Celtics anytime in the near future, but if Chicago is on the rise while Jalen Brunson and Jayson Tatum are losing a few steps, welp, that fits with a potential Wilson timeline.

Caleb is a gregarious, affable 19-year-old who oozes the kind of charisma the Bulls have lacked since the days of Joakim Noah. Don’t believe me? Let’s see with the garrulous soon-to-be-ex-North Carolina Tar Heel had to say for himself over the days and weeks leading up to the draft.

On Whether He Should Be the Top Pick of the NBA Draft

“I definitely do. I mean, I played against everybody else and I won and I played better. So, it’s that simple for me You can check the film. You can check the tape.”

On Potential Similarities to Kawhi Leonard

“He’s a two-way player and he affects [the game] on every level. I feel like he did that [when he played] with the Spurs. I’ve seen the clip of him checking [LeBron James], and LeBron being like, ‘Damn.’ That’s the that’s the effect you want to have on your opponents. Like, you’re checking the game like, “Damn, who’s that? We can’t have this guy on us.’ That’s the effect I want to have…and I feel like I do have that effect.”

On Draft Night Jitters

“I’m not nervous. I feel like God has a plan for me and I feel like being nervous is only if you’re not prepared. I can prepare for the next level and whatever I need to work on I get there.”

On Potentially Landing In Chicago

“I’m a winner, [and] I’m going to change [the Bulls’] culture. I’m going to bring it back to what it was, for sure.”

On Improvement

“I’m working on a lot of different things, working on my guard skills, working on things I wasn’t able to show at North Carolina and it’s just been a lot of fun, honestly. I’m just having fun with it, enjoying my ability to play basketball again and I feel like I’ll be the best player in this draft. So I’m excited.”

On Shooting From Distance

“I wasn’t asked to take threes in college. I did what it took to win. So, you know, I mean, I feel like I’m a great shooter and I’ll be able to shut out when I get to the league. But I just did what was required of me and asked me to be an elite college basketball player, which is what my job was.”

On the Kevin Garnett Comparisons

“I feel like me and KG are similar. I feel like he was really competitive. We’re both kind of tall and athletic, and I get the comparison, but I feel like I’m my own guy, too. KG was a great player in the Hall of Famer, and I feel like comparisons are never really that true, honestly. I feel like we’re all different and unique players, and I definitely feel like respect to be compared to a Hall of Famer and an elite player like Kevin Garnett, but at the same time, I’m my own person. I write my own story.”

On His Hoops Style

“I think I'm really just a playmaker. I'm able to make plays for everyone from almost all spots on the court. I think I can really do it all. I can rebound, I can pass the ball really well, which I think is my best strength. I can defend multiple positions. I can hit shots, so I don't really feel I have a way I can box myself in. I just feel like I'm a player who can guard one-through-five, guard the best player on the team. When I’m on the offensive end, come through when we need a bucket and get everybody else open.”

On What He Wants In an NBA Coach

“I’m just looking for a coach that believes in me, trusts me, and is going to give me the truth and develop me to be the best pro I can be. If somebody coaches me hard, I just take what I need to learn from it. No matter how they put it or say it or if they’re screaming or not, I just take what I need to learn from it and move on. I feel like if a coach just allows me to get the rebound and push and then allows me to initiate offense and then he allows me to guard, and switch and things like that, I feel like that’s pretty much all you can ask for a coach to do. Because, I mean, I feel like that means that they trust you and that means that they believe that you have the ability to have your ball in their hands and kind of impact winning.”

On Classrooms

“My favorite subject is history. I really like it because it really does repeat itself, because I think that humans, we all have a subconscious that makes us do the same things over and over again. If we're put in the same situations, I feel like most of the time we'll act the same way.”

On Reading His Own Press

“I don’t go on websites and stuff like that. I really don’t care about the media’s opinion of me. I feel like I’m just going to work to be the best pro I can be. And comparison is the thief of joy. So all I really care about is somebody comparing me to someone else.”

On Childhood Heroes

“I’ve always liked LeBron [James] and I also liked [Steph] Curry. I like LeBron because he’s just extremely athletic. It’s just fun to watch. I like Steph Curry because he’s a smaller guy, but he uses the mental side of the game to his advantage. I don’t really model myself after anyone. I watch a lot of film on different guys I like. I watch a lot of Jayson Tatum film because I like how he works out of the mid-post and the wing because I feel like that’s something I would do in today’s game, and so I watch a lot of him, and I also watch a lot of Paul George.”

On Shrugging Off Mistakes

“I saw Kobe say in an interview, ‘Get over yourself.’ Like, you're probably thinking about something that happened but nobody else is, but you're harping on it because you feel like you're such a big guy or you're so important, but in reality, it's just like, ‘It's [just] another game. There’s something else that you could be doing. Just get over yourself and keep moving.’”

On His Elementary School Baseball Career

[Baseball] is a great sport and I feel like it’s more mental than anything. I feel like baseball teaches you so many lessons because the thing about baseball is you’re really often going to fail. So, you know, having the ability to learn how to fail and learn how to, you know, from that, I feel like it’s really important.”

On Draft Night

“I just want to be in a place that really thinks that I can be a good player and they believe in me. I don’t really care where I get drafted, and when I say that position-wise, I could [between] one and ten. I don’t really care. As long as the team believes in me, it feels like I can be a player that can impact their team in a positive way.”

On His Dream Legacy

“I just want to be remembered as someone who inspired a lot of people because I feel like that's what the purpose for me is here on Earth because I feel like if you do everything just for yourself, it's never going to end well so I just want to be someone who inspires a lot of people. As a person, I want to be someone who has helped a lot of people and brought happiness to a lot of people because I really don't want to be remembered as someone who nobody really liked or anything like that. I want to be remembered as a bright spirit, a bright soul.”

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MY DAD AND I, we didn’t have the greatest relationship.

I could take a deep dive into the specifics, but I’ll save that for the memoir I’ll never write. Suffice it to say that one of my buddies nicknamed him “The Needle,” and it wasn’t because he had the ability to thread a chest pass through two defenders.

Despite our emotional distance, I was a respectful kid, and every Father’s Day, I gave Dad his proper due. To his credit, he was a hard worker who, each day, went to a job he didn’t particularly care for, often slogging through the midnight-to-eight shift, sucking it up so he could give his family the best life possible.

That said, he wasn’t a warm-and-fuzzy, playful, hands-on dude. Like I can count the times I remember shooting hoops with him on two hands. Maybe even one.

So on the evening of June 16, 1996 — the Father’s Day night the 72-10 Chicago Bulls were coronated as NBA champions, taking down the Seattle Supersonics 87-75 — when Michael lost his shit in the locker room, of course I understood why.

More or less.

Jumpman’s tears didn’t stem from his 5-of-19 (26.3%) shooting from the field, although M.J. is such a competitive freak that that kind of breakdown wouldn’t have been super-out-of-character. No, the heaving chest and the face-first collapse onto the floor all came about because his father wasn’t there to share the moment.

That’s a reaction I’d likely never have.

UNLIKE MYSELF, Michael had a special relationship with his dad, James.

“He was my rock,” Jordan said. “We were very close. He constantly gave me advice. I remember in ninth grade I got suspended three times in one year, and my father pulled me aside that summer and said: ‘Look, you don’t look like you’re heading in the right direction. You know, if you want to go about doing all this mischievous stuff, you can forget sports.’”

These weren’t the kind of wisdom nuggets I got from The Needle.

Almost exactly three years prior to the Seattle victory — it was either June 24 or 25 — Jordan family members reported James as missing. On August 3, James’ lifeless, bullet-ridden body was found by a fisherman in Gum Swamp Creek, near McColl, South Carolina. The body had been decomposing in the water for days, forcing the coroner to identify James via dental records. The shooters, teenaged fuckwits Daniel Green and Larry Demery, were sentenced to life in prison; they’ve been eligible for parole since 2022, yet both remain incarcerated.

Michael was devastated by the loss, naturally, but despite his snarky public persona — he did and does a whole lot of needling of his own — he opened up to 60 Minutes:

“The thing that I look at the death of my father, unfortunately, you know, [is that] it happened at the hands of another human being, which, in essence, it’s very difficult to deal with. Just the notion of being able to kill someone…”

Therapy on national television. That takes balls. But Michael Jordan is nothing if not ballsy.

THERE’S NO REAL resolution to my side of this story.

He’s gone now, my father, and I’ve come to terms with how we interacted. He loved me, I know, but he was unable to show it, and it was what it was, and he was who he was, and I’m not bitter.

There is a positive outcome to our lack of relationship, however: With my daughter, I’m the anti-Needle. I never even tease her, let alone insult her. There’s no sarcasm from my end, no snark, just unmitigated support.

And if my daughter can reap the hidden rewards of my rough patriarchal road, it was well worth it.

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