It isn’t often that a 20-year-old has a great feel for leadership.
Bulls big man Wendell Carter Jr. just might not be most 20 year olds, however.
Yes, the team’s two-game winning streak has had a lot of Zach LaVine highlights late in games, but look deeper at what the Bulls have been the last few weeks. At least when there’s success.
Since Nov. 20, the Bulls have four wins. In all four wins, Carter has recorded a double-double, averaging 13.8 points, 12.3 rebounds, and shooting 55 percent from the field.
His actions are backing up his words.
“I feel like everybody believes [I can lead] because they all know that I’m not a self-centered leader,’’ Carter told the Sun-Times last week. “If I’m wrong, I’m going to acknowledge that I’m wrong, but if you’re wrong, I’m going to acknowledge that too. If you mess up I’m going to point you out on it, and it depends on how you take it. If you’re mad at me or are you going to accept it?
“And I expect the same from my teammates when it comes to me. Tell me when I’m wrong, tell me how to fix it, and we’ll keep it moving.’’
And Carter might need to keep it moving.
While Otto Porter Jr. and Thaddeus Young were voted captains late in the preseason, and by all accounts have been great leaders, it’s Carter in his second year that might be carrying the loudest voice amongst the starting unit.
Young has had inconsistencies in his bench role, mostly in finding minutes to get him in a rhythm. Meanwhile, Porter and the bone bruise in his left foot remain an issue. Further testing was done this week, and there’s still no clear timetable for the forward’s return.
Porter is expected back at some point, and surgery isn’t in the forecast, but that “calm,’’ as coach Jim Boylen described of Porter’s leadership style, has to come from somewhere. Carter just might be the perfect candidate.
“It is frustrating,’’ Boylen said of the Porter injury. “I try not to look at those things like it’s my frustration. I feel bad for the guy. Obviously, the team needs him. But I feel bad for him. I think he’s frustrated. It wears on him. He’s a competitive guy. He’s a winning player. So it’s very difficult for him.’’
It may soon start getting a bit more difficult for the Bulls.
The win over Sacramento on Monday was a solid one, and maybe the best win of the season considering how well the Kings were playing leading into that game. Beating Memphis on Wednesday, was simply the home team taking care of a bad visiting team. About time the 8-14 Bulls did that, especially if playoffs are still a realistic goal the organization feels they can reach.
Even Friday night against Golden State at the United Center should be another lay-up for a third-straight win.
Then the rest of December starts getting real for the Bulls.
A back-to-back starting in Miami on Sunday, followed by a home game against Toronto will really let Boylen know if this team is ready to turn the corner. Then they host Atlanta, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers, followed by a four-game road trip to Oklahoma City, Washington, Detroit and Orlando. They end the month hosting red-hot Milwaukee, and by then will be 34 games into the regular season.
If the front office finds the deficit in the Eastern Conference much bigger than they anticipated, could they start to become sellers? That’s not a far-fetched scenario.
There have been more misses than hits so far in this rebuild.
But as the Bulls, and the locker room, are finding out, Carter definitely isn’t one of them.
