CHICAGO _ Robin Lopez has grown a lush and lengthy goatee for a month, telling people who ask for a comparison that he looks like Errol Flynn.
It seems fitting because that actor played Robin Hood, who _ outlaw or not _ had noble and selfless intentions, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
When Fred Hoiberg mentioned sacrifice in the first team meeting of Bulls training camp, a spotlight could've landed on Lopez. Management placed the dependable veteran and Justin Hoilday on ice after the All-Star break last season, all in the pursuit of draft-lottery ping-pong balls.
No matter who asked Lopez about accepting that demotion or how many times, the veteran center never took the bait and spewed frustration or negativity.
Lopez's reward for his professionalism? Groom Wendell Carter Jr., who will take your starting job one day and could lead to you being traded.
"The greatest good is the team good," Lopez said Thursday. "So we're trying to push each other for the team benefit. Whatever's best for the team, that's what we're aiming for. We're going to help each other out and try to make the whole better."
But doesn't Lopez feel he sacrificed enough last season?
"Everybody sacrifices when you're in a team setting," he said. "It's kind of par for the course."
Most team observers believe Lopez will be the starting center on opening night. But there's also a growing expectation that Carter, 19, has the poise and defensive instinct to inherit the job before season's end.
If that happens, well, Lopez will be coming off the bench via the high road yet again.
"I'm a competitive guy," Lopez, 30, said. "But I'm going to do what I can coming off the bench in that situation to help my teammates."
Nobody should feel sorry for Lopez. He makes $14.3 million to play the game he loves in a city he loves too.
Lopez has nothing but praise for Carter anyway.
"I love his attitude on and off the floor," Lopez said. "He's a really skilled player, hard worker. And right now, Wendell, Cris (Felicio) and myself are really pushing each other, which I love."
Lopez joked that with his "creepy uncle beard" comes some experience. Indeed, entering his 11th season, the main piece acquired from the June 2016 Derrick Rose trade to the Knicks brings toughness, screen setting and defense.
For a team projected to be defensively challenged, Lopez still fills a need.
"Enthusiasm on that end is contagious," he said. "If you have one or two guys pushing the three or four guys on that end, that's really helpful. What's really important for us, especially with a young team, is holding each other accountable on both ends of the floor, particularly the defensive end."
Hoiberg knows what a luxury it is to coach such a team-first player.
"He has played at a high level for a long time in this league," Hoiberg said. "He knows where to be. He knows the spots. He has passed the learning curve that you have when you get in this league. That's what Wendell is going to have to continue to battle every day. How quickly can he pick up NBA concepts?
"Robin has been awesome for Wendell. He's been great for our young bigs since he's been here. I think people will understand when they look back on their careers how fortunate they were to play with Robin."
