Nov. 20--LOS ANGELES -- Two of Mike Dunleavy's four 3-pointers swished through the basket during the fourth quarter of Monday night's victory over the Clippers, placing an exclamation point on his 19-point, seven-rebound night.
The veteran forward hit several big shots during the affair. Yet afterward, as bigger names and brighter stars held court, Dunleavy slipped out of the locker room with nary a reporter approaching him for comment.
Not that Dunleavy, whose father had witnessed the proceedings in person, minded.
"It's kind of nice," Dunleavy said. "That's one of the reasons I came here, just to be a part of a group winning a lot of games. I don't care about the other stuff. If you guys need me to answer your questions, I'm happy to do it. But as far as I'm concerned, I like to show up, do my job and go home."
The under-the-radar theme seems fitting for a player who remains starting for the Bulls in unexpected fashion.
When Dunleavy turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to sign with the Bulls in 2013, he did so thinking he would back up Luol Deng. Then Deng battled an injured Achilles before getting traded and Dunleavy ended up starting 61 games while playing all 82 for the fourth time in 12 seasons.
This summer, Dunleavy tuned out the noise surrounding the Bulls' free-agency pursuit of Carmelo Anthony and has started all 11 games.
"It's not really anything for me to deal with. It was just a matter of me getting ready to play an NBA season," Dunleavy said. "I felt pretty strongly I'd be back with the Bulls. If I wasn't, I was going to be ready to play wherever I was at. That whole situation didn't change my preparation. It wasn't very stressful for me. I didn't lose any sleep. I just knew I'd be playing somewhere.
"I love being here. Don't get me wrong; if I wasn't, I'd be disappointed. But just being around this league and growing up around it, you learn not to worry about the stuff you can't control. That was certainly a scenario that was out of my hands."
Dunleavy grew up around the league, obviously, because his father, Mike Sr., coached four teams over 17 NBA seasons. Dunleavy said his father watches his games either in person or on TV, so having him there Monday wasn't a big deal.
Playing against him, knowing his father had game-planned for him, was.
"It's a bit unusual and awkward and uncomfortable, not something I particularly enjoy," Dunleavy said. "But it's pretty rare and speaks to accomplishment from our standpoint. You acknowledge that as a part of NBA history."
Dunleavy Sr. interviewed for the Lakers' vacancy that went to Byron Scott but hasn't coached since the Clippers dismissed him during the 2009-10 season. His son's current coach, Tom Thibodeau, appreciates coaching Dunleavy Jr.
"He's a consummate pro," Thibodeau said. "Whatever you ask him to fulfill, he's going to do it."
Dunleavy is averaging 11.5 points and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.
"He plays for the team," Thibodeau said. "And he's just a basketball player. Like sometimes, you just need to move the ball from side to side. He gets that done. It's not reflected in an assist, but he gets you movement. And he moves extremely well without the ball."
Not to mention out of the locker room if no reporter needs him to talk, content with putting in another day's work.
Injury update: Derrick Rose, who has missed two games with a strained left hamstring, participated in Wednesday's practice at the Clippers' practice facility. Pau Gasol, who sat out Monday with a strained left calf, did not. Thibodeau said both players' availability is "50-50" for Thursday.
kcjohnson@tribpub.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
