INDIANAPOLIS — It has only been two weeks since rookie big man Daniel Gafford dislocated his right thumb on a deflected pass, but the way he sounded Wednesday, it has been two weeks too long.
He doesn’t want to hear from doctors and rehab specialists any longer and is hoping to take the court again in Brooklyn on Friday, when the Bulls take on the Nets.
“Right now, based on how comfortable I am working with it, just working out, getting up shots, a feel for the ball, catching the ball, dunking the ball, things like that, I’m looking to play in Brooklyn, and if not in Brooklyn, then for sure in Toronto [on Sunday],’’ Gafford said. “I’m trying to take my time to make sure I’m fully recovered, able to come back and do the things I was able to do before the injury. I just want to be comfortable playing with something like this. I’ve been getting my work in, keeping my conditioning up, so it’s just about getting back out there.’’
Gafford then showed a side that has endeared him to teammates and the organization. The Bulls have had their share of injuries, but no one seems to be taking the time away harder than Gafford. Despite a visible cut on the thumb where the bone came out, Gafford wants to play.
“I’m just trying to stay in the mental state where I’m supporting the team,’’ said Gafford, the 38th overall pick in the 2019 draft. “I just want to be out there with the guys — winning or losing. It eats me up alive that I’m not out there with them right now, and I feel a bit of disappointment, shame, a lot of feelings going through my mind right now.’’
Gafford admitted that the deaths of Kobe Bryant and a childhood classmate who was killed in Arkansas have put him in a difficult place lately, but he can’t wait to play.
“I think I can still do some things,’’ Gafford said. “Even block a shot or two.’’
When reminded that he mostly blocks shots with that right hand, he smiled and said, “It’s mostly my fingertips, so I’m good there.’’
Second stopper?
Obviously, Kris Dunn is the defensive stopper on the perimeter, and coach Jim Boylen continues to prop up second-year forward Chandler Hutchison, specifically on the defensive end, but it’s not a 1A and 1B situation.
“We’ve had some situations in the past where we’ve put Hutch on a primary guy,’’ Boylen said when asked if the two were interchangeable. “Hutch is a guy that we envision being a two-way player that can defend [multiple] positions. To say I’m going to take Kris off somebody to put [Hutchison] on him, I don’t know if we’re quite there yet. If Kris isn’t in the game, maybe we put Hutch on him. He wants that.’’
Maybe so, but Hutchison had some rough defensive moments against the Pacers. T.J. McConnell and Doug McDermott made him look bad in a two-minute span in the second quarter.
Rising star?
Rookie guard Coby White said being named to the Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend would “mean a lot,’’ but he won’t be losing sleep over it either way with the selections scheduled to be announced Friday.
“Hopefully I’ll be one of the ones selected, but like I always say if not, it’s not the end of the world for me,’’ White said. “I won’t let it define who I am. But to represent Chicago in Chicago for All-Star Weekend would be a big deal for me. It would be a blessing, for sure, but you never know.’’
