MEXICO CITY _ Lauri Markkanen's role urging players to show up for practice Sunday after some initial talk of a boycott already has been reported.
For the first time, Markkanen addressed his role as the Bulls prepared to practice Wednesday at Mexico City Arena as part of the NBA's Global Games initiative.
"I wanted to have my opinion and let players know what I think," Markkanen told the Tribune. "I think I can be one of the leaders of the team. That's what I suggested. That's how it went."
Not all players were on the initial group text exchange. Multiple sources said Markkanen was and that his voice, which Robin Lopez later joined once the text exchange spread to the entire team, was instrumental in everyone showing up to request the team meeting.
"I thought that was a more professional way to go about it," Markkanen said. "I thought about other members of the staff. Like, they show up to work. Obviously, this isn't the main point, but some of the staff lives an hour away and they come to work. I try to think how disrespectful that is to tell them that we wouldn't show up."
Asked how he felt about some teammates suggesting the idea, Markkanen paused.
"It was definitely new for me," he said. "It is what it is. It was an idea. We started talking and got it figured out as a team. We have to stick together. Obviously, we had a rough week. We all need to work together. And I think we will."
Zach LaVine said talk of the potential boycott "got blown out of proportion." LaVine, who was visibly frustrated after Saturday's franchise-record 56-point loss to the Celtics, was a vocal leader in Sunday's meeting.
"It wasn't about practice or the game," LaVine said. "It was the collective emotions of afterwards and how we lost and just the whole week. Me and Jim are on the same page. The team is on the same page. I think us moving forward is going to be a really good thing."
