From the outside looking in, the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings don’t appear all that different. Sacramento features three former Bulls—DeMar DeRozan, Doug McDermott, and Zach LaVine—two of whom, both over 30, are averaging more than 37 minutes per game. Chicago, meanwhile, rosters one former King, Kevin Huerter, acquired last season in the LaVine trade.
Yet the two teams’ early-season success and playstyles couldn’t be more different. For the Kings, things have been out of sync from the start. Just days before signing his five-year, $140 million extension, forward Keegan Murray tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, underwent surgery, and is expected to be reevaluated in four to six weeks.