With the rise of social media and advanced analytics, the athletes we love and revere have never been so accessible, relatable or entertaining — both on and off the court.
Being a basketball fan in 2019 has become more than blindly supporting the tall men wearing the good colors. Now, we have the privilege of deeply knowing and connecting with not just ‘our team,’ but also with the eclectic group of personalities that make up that team. In them, we see a reflection of our city, our values, ourselves.
So, when former Bulls find success in the latter stages of their careers, it’s become common practice for the fanbase to celebrate them. In his last two games in the United Center as a visitor, Derrick Rose received, incredibly, both a standing ovation and MVP chants. Joakim Noah has received similar treatment in his return(s) to Chicago. Last month, Luol Deng signed a one-day contract to retire a Bull, to tremendous acclaim. The list goes on.
Well, Chicago fans, rejoice. After over a year of searching, former Bull Carmelo Anthony has found a new home. Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Anthony signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trail Blazers Thursday night.
Anthony’s time with the Bulls wasn’t long, but he certainly left his mark on the city and organization. In XX games with the Bulls, Anthony averaged XX points, XX rebounds and XX assists on XX% shooting. (We’ll update those figures later — assuming Basketball Reference is still updating Anthony’s player page.)
Best of luck on the west coast, Melo, and on whatever might come after. The city of Chicago is behind you the rest of the way.
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