Bulls guard Rob Dillingham knows his real work hasn't even started
WASHINGTON — It admittedly didn’t take very long for Rob Dillingham to count his blessings.
Asked on Thursday if his increased minutes over the last four games has reiterated how important the change of scenery from Minnesota was for him at the trade deadline, he responded, “For sure. It only took me like a few days to realize that. Once I got here, got with the guys, got with the team, got with Coach (Billy Donovan), it’s honestly been a blessing. They work with me, they help me progress and I feel like they want me here and I belong here. So as long as they are there with me, I’m going to keep giving my all for sure.”
That was apparent in the Bulls’ Tuesday win over the Wizards as Dillingham scored a career-high 26 points and also grabbed seven rebounds.
Rather than pat himself on the back, however, he was already putting that performance behind him and focusing on an offseason where he needs to take a big jump.
“It shows me that I can play for sure, but honestly it’s just one game and I try and get better every game,” Dillingham said. “I have a list of things I need to do this summer and first is strength, adding weight, for sure. Basketball-wise it’s just me being in the same predicaments I’m in the game. Instead of just working out and shooting, I think this summer I need to be in the same situations I’m in during a game. Really just studying the game, learning the game.”
The weight and muscle gain would be huge for Dillingham, especially since his speed and quickness all throughout high school and his one year in college didn’t require him to play with physicality. Bigger objects were simply avoided.
Donovan, however, has made it a priority for Dillingham that he needs to do all the little things that impact winning and playing with physicality in front of bigger guards was a must.
“You got a 6-4, 200-pound guard coming at you full speed down court, anyone is going to feel it,” Dillingham said. “Whether you got weight or not. But I got to put the weight on because I feel like it puts me in situations where the team has to help me more.
“My whole career I haven’t really needed contact. But being in the NBA and watching players, that’s how they create their game through contact. Me adding that to my game would definitely help.”
Done for the year?
Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Matas Buzelis (illness) stayed back in Chicago for the Wizards trip, and Donovan was hoping to find out on Friday if they would be available for the last two games.
“I would say it’s moving towards (Giddey missing the final two games) unless he clears up pretty quickly,” Donovan said. “Matas is still dealing with the illness.”
Noa’s arc
Rookie Noa Essengue, who was lost for the season after just two appearances, has been working out on and off the court, but Donovan knows the summer is everything for him.
“I think he needs to be playing, whether it’s one-on-one or three-on-three, and he’ll get that this summer,” Donovan said. “He’s gotten a little bit taller from when he first got here, which is encouraging, but I think it’s good for him that he can get back on the court and work on his game, but the next step is can he do the physical things that are going to really help him.”