On Thursday night, with a face full of joy, Dalen Terry was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 18th overall pick. With over 100 friends and family in Phoenix for his draft party, the excitement was evident for the 6’6 sophomore guard out of Arizona. While this is not a pick many Chicago Bulls fans were expecting, this is a valid pickup for General Manager Marc Eversley. Eversley said the rookie’s “infectious energy” was a key reason in selecting Terry.
Terry averaged 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in his sophomore season at Arizona. Terry’s primary value on the floor is on the defensive end. With his 7-foot wingspan, he is an active defender with the length to disrupt most NBA guards mainly due to his size. Terry was also a 2021-2022 Pac-12 All-Defense selection and also showed promise on the offensive end, connecting on 36.4 percent of his three-pointers. He is also an excellent passer with flexibility as a ball-handler, especially in the open court.
Despite leading his team to a Pac-12 championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament, the main critique of his game is his ability to create shots for himself. In his sophomore season, he only attempted 6.2 shots per game, which is concerning due to the influx of scoring guards in the league. Terry explained this Thursday night, simply saying— “I pass the ball.”
Despite the low-scoring averages, Bulls fans should not be too concerned. The Bulls already have two talented scoring guards in Demar DeRozan and Zach Lavine, so he won’t have to do much on offense. It is his defensive tenacity, length, and energy that is needed for this team, especially considering how undersized to Bulls are. He will fit right in with two defensive guards themselves Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. “My defense, my versatility are coming over immediately,” Terry said. “Those are things I do every day. My energy, my leadership, my grit…. Make me who I am”.
Terry also wanted to play for the Chicago Bulls after working out for them recently saying, “Man, I’m so happy to be here,” Terry said. “I feel like I fit in perfectly.”
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