The Bulls' Rob Dillingham feeling, and playing, 'renewed' with new team

This certainly isn’t the Rob Dillingham that arrived to the Bulls back at the Feb. 5 trade deadline. This isn’t even the same Dillingham from a week ago.

“I’m renewed,” the guard said with a proud grin.

One way to look at it. More accurately, Dillingham is less broken.

There’s no question that his year-and-a-half in Minnesota was not a great experience. Drafted No. 8 overall in the 2024 draft – three spots in front of where the Bulls grabbed Matas Buzelis – Dillingham went from hot prospect out of Kentucky to suspect, as in the Timberwolves were starting to question if he was a legit rotation player, let alone a talent that was warranted to be a lottery pick.

It was to the point in Minnesota that when he did get minutes, which were sparingly this season, any mistake was met with a quick hook and back to butt on the bench.

How Bulls coach Billy Donovan has handled Dillingham is coach him hard, let him get a few chances to fix mistakes, but if he’s not figuring it out then there has to be a cool-off period out of the game.

It seems to be resulting in something.

In his last three games, Dillingham has averaged 13 points, including a 15-point performance in the Memphis win, while averaging five assists and shooting 6-of-15 (40%) from three-point range.

“I’m just thankful for Coach, honestly,” Dillingham said after his latest showing. “Giving me that leash, it’s like I’m renewed. I’ve been able to play freely. My mental when I’ve been out on the court has been bad like for the last couple months, so I’m just thankful that I’m able to play, able to add confidence, able to help us win, and really, I’m just thankful to learn and keep growing.”

Donovan isn’t the only one helping Dillingham with that. Even after downing the Grizzlies, Dillingham was getting a quick post-game lift with teammate Tre Jones. The same Tre Jones that is listed an inch smaller than Dillingham, but carries more weight and way more finishing talent at the rim.

Jones’ angle game when it comes to attacking bigs is an artform, and Dillingham is all in on learning it.

“I had just said that to (Jones), ‘Brah, how do you finish like that?’ “ Dillingham said. “Then the crazy part about it is he’s not even finishing left-handed. He’s finishing right-handed over every big. That’s a big help. Even (against Memphis) I had some missed layups, but I know I can get in the lane. It’s the finishing part. I know I can finish but it’s not 100% there. Learning from him, keep asking him questions will help me for sure.”

And Jones’ secret?

“Tre’s like (thicker than me). I just said something about that, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I got three kids I’ve been lifting.’ I was like, ‘So I gotta get some kids now?’ “ Dillingham said with a laugh. “Nah, he’s a big help for sure.”

All good stuff that Donovan likes to hear.

“When he first (came over) quite honestly, I thought he was risk-averse,” Donovan said of Dillingham. “He was so concerned about making mistakes, so trying to free him up a little bit. The biggest thing for him and these players is when you have someone like him who is very athletic but doesn’t have great size, he’s got to figure out when he gets in the lane, when he leaves his feet too early that’s when he gets himself in trouble, but I love his spirit.

“He’s eager to learn and get better, put work in, he’s always asking questions. Since he’s been here, he’s gotten more comfortable and he’s played better, and some of that might be he’s gotten more minutes too.”