One of the biggest storylines for the Bulls this season will be the development of forward Patrick Williams, who head coach Billy Donovan said at media day needs to ‘take another step.’
“We need him to take another step as a player and I think he can do that…he has a couple of years under his belt, although last year was cut short for him. I still think this was a very, very good summer for his progress going into this season.”
Williams’ development was put on pause last season as he only played 17 games, missing most of the season due to injury. But this offseason, Williams has been fully healthy and a constant in the gym.
“I think everybody knows that him being more aggressive is where it starts,” Donovan said. “To me there’s been part of his development that’s been missed, certainly going into last year and this is probably been the first normal offseason he’s had.”
Zach LaVine mentioned at media day that Williams worked out with his trainer, Drew Hanlen, during the offseason. At exit interviews following losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first-round last season, DeMar DeRozan said that Williams would be joining him in Los Angeles for workouts during the offseason.
And join DeRozan he did.
“I think he put me through everything,” Williams said. “If that wasn’t everything, then he’s different.”
Williams said at media day that the and DeRozan did two-a-days with the workouts beginning at 5 A.M., working through lifting, conditioning, and in-game drills.
“Everything DeMar does is mental, so you’re going to take a jump in terms of how you look at things, how you approach whatever it may be, whether it’s a practice or a game or whatever,” Williams said. “Whether it’s life or basketball, just how you approach things, how he approaches things is something I kind of picked up on.
If Williams can indeed take that next step for the Bulls this season, watch out.
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