The last time the Chicago Bulls had a consistently competitive Playoff-caliber team was in the late 2010s when the team was led by Jimmy Butler. The 2016-17 season carried a lot of hope for the Bulls, as they employed Butler alongside point guard Rajon Rondo and hometown legend Dwyane Wade. Unfortunately, the trio was better on paper than on the court.
2014 Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams was on the roster and opened up on how Wade’s presence hurt the franchise that season, revealing he could’ve been a better leader on Run It Back.
“Sometimes, Wade seemed frustrated… He was injured a lot and spent a lot of time rehabbing, so we didn’t always get reps with him in practice. He’d get frustrated about not getting the ball in the right spots, and we’d feel like we didn’t have enough practice with him to figure it out.”
“Wade was passionate about winning. He wanted to address problems, have conversations, and resolve things. There were moments where he led by sharing his experiences and trying to guide us. At other times, we felt he could’ve been a better leader.”
Carter-Williams averaged 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists that season with the Bulls, while Wade averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in just 60 games. Butler averaged 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists to lead the franchise to the Playoffs, making the All-NBA and All-Star teams, while Rondo averaged 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists.
The team went 41-41 to sneak into the 2017 Playoffs, where they were bounced in the first round by the Boston Celtics 4-2, although they did jump out to a 2-0 lead by winning the first two games in the TD Garden.
The team would be blown up after that season, with Butler being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves that offseason. Wade signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers to reunite with LeBron James, and Rondo signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. Carter-Williams would also leave the franchise, joining the Charlotte Hornets that offseason.
Dwyane Wade’s Time On The Bulls Led To 2 Finals Appearance For The Heat
Even though Wade is from Chicago and wanted to represent the Bulls to emulate his icon Michael Jordan, he will always be remembered as the greatest player in Miami Heat history. He was a franchise hero who wasn’t a one-team icon due to differences during his playing career, although he retired from the franchise and now has a statue outside the arena.
His one year on the Bulls ultimately ended up setting in motion Jimmy Butler eventually joining the Miami Heat. Wade and Butler created a strong bond with each other as teammates after Butler had agreed to a five-year contract with the Bulls in 2015. He would get traded on the same contract to the Timberwolves and then to the Philadelphia 76ers before hitting free agency in 2019 after declining a player option.
His acquaintance with Wade and stories of Heat culture attracted Butler to sign in Miami, leading the franchise to the NBA Finals in his first season with the team. He would lead them back to the NBA Finals in 2023, meanwhile, the Bulls have had one Playoff appearance since Butler left the franchise.
It’s funny how the one year the Bulls brought a city legend onto the roster, it directly led to the benefit of one of their biggest rivals down the line.
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