Mike Dunleavy Perfect Mentor For Chicago Bulls Rookie Doug McDermott
By Justin Ullestad
@justin_ullestad
Daniel Shirey – USA Today Sports
Although many have speculated Mike Dunleavy may be on the move at some point during the coming season, his value as a mentor may be more valuable to the Chicago Bulls than his performance on the court.
Dunleavy, a respected veteran and one of the better catch-and-shoot wingers in the league today, has already taken an interest in the development of rookie Dough McDermott. McDermott, who is coming into this season with a massive amount of hype and expectations, was arguably the best pure shooter in the 2014 NBA Draft class and could take over Dunleavy’s starting role by midseason.
At 6-foot-9, Dunleavy and McDermott have similar body types and similar playing styles. Both came into the league as pure shooters but were classified as “tweeners” at their position. Dunleavy has parlayed that idea into 12-year career, averaging double-digits in scoring in all but his rookie season.
In my mind, McDermott is the remix of Dunleavy; a little more athletic, a more diverse skill set and a quicker release. Who better to have as your mentor on a team than the player your game resembles the most?
The mentoring process has already started. Last week, it was reported Dunleavy stayed after practice to help McDermott understand how to stay in bounds when setting up in the corner – a spot McDermott will often find himself in throughout the coming season.
Justin Ullestad is a Chicago Bulls writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on twitter @justin_ullestad. “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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