The chest felt good.
Patrick Williams was glad for that.
Even better?
While there was less burning in the chest, there was also more experience now added to the rookie’s resume.
Sure, the Bulls have now lost to Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Lakers in the last week, but in taking on both of those elite teams, it allowed Williams to get an education that film and practice just don’t do justice.
He was given the task of guarding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on New Year’s Day, and then Friday night the stakes went up, guarding the best player on the planet in LeBron James.