The demise of Kris Dunn has once again been highly exaggerated.
Nothing unusual for the fourth-year Bulls guard, but just another reminder that the self-proclaimed “dawg’’ in the yard doesn’t back down to adversity, and when push does come to shove? Dang right he’ll bite.
“He’s a freaking dawg,’’ teammate Zach LaVine said to reporters, when discussing Dunn over the weekend. “He’s not scared of nothing. He’s going to talk his stuff. He’s one of the best defenders out there. He takes that challenge. He brings an energy and toughness to the team. He’ll even talk to me if I’m doing something wrong. He’ll pick me up and get me going. I love everything that he does.’’
And the Bulls might have to soon ask themselves what the value of all Dunn does really is in the market place?
At 25 years old and nearing the end of his rookie contract, Dunn will be a restricted free agent this offseason.
That means the organization will have to place value on a point guard that is not a great shooter (22.7 percent from three-point range this season), not great at decision making — although the numbers are vastly better in that department so far this season — and not even a starter.
Dunn began the season on the bench before injuries to Otto Porter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison forced him into the starting lineup.
What he does do, however, is terrorize the opposition on the defensive end.
Dunn leads the Bulls in steals with two per game, and was near the top of the league in deflections per game.
More tangible results is exactly who Dunn has put on his shutdown resume this season.
In two meetings with Atlanta scoring dynamo Trae Young, Dunn has held him to 7-for-26 shooting, including 1-for-14 from three. Getting matched up throughout most of the night against with former Bull Jimmy Butler a few weeks ago, Dunn held the All-Star to 3-for-14 shooting, including 0-for-5 from three.
The Bulls have simply been a better team since Dunn became a starter, and along with Wendell Carter Jr., the two give them a defensive presence that hasn’t been since in at least three years.
“I’m big on defense, and I take pride on it,’’ Dunn said. “Wendell, he’s a good defender, he takes pride on it, so when you’ve got two guys who really take pride on their defense … ‘’
The last 10 games happen.
In that time the Bulls are actually a .500 team, and Dunn is arguably one of the reasons why. The guard is averaging 8.8 points, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, while shooting 45.5 percent from the field.
“He helps us get organized at both ends,’’ coach Jim Boylen said of Dunn. “He’s a great communicator. He’s one of the top defenders in the league. He’s a Defensive Player of the Year candidate to me. He takes the challenge, moves to the next play. He has improved at the offensive end. His decision-making has improved. And he’s becoming a complete player. But his spirit and his understanding of his role and job in that lineup is what makes it for us.’’
All of this for a guy that was told at the end of last season that his services as a starter were no longer needed, and has been waved out there as trade bait since the middle of the 2018-19 campaign.
So has Dunn resurrected his career? It’s safe to say yes with what he’s done this season.
That resurgence will come at a cost, however, and the Bulls will have a final say in what they feel that cost should be.
