Bulls rookie Dalen Terry patiently trying his best to wait his turn

WASHINGTON — Dalen Terry thought he could help.

That’s not a revelation coming from the 18th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft because Terry always feels like he could’ve helped — after every game and every DNP-coach’s decision.

But Wednesday was different. Without DeMar DeRozan (right quadriceps) and Javonte Green (right knee surgery), the Bulls still built a double-digit lead at halftime, only to see it painfully evaporate in a three-point loss.

Meanwhile, Terry, again, was a spectator for all 48 minutes.

“I’m definitely anxious to get playing time,’’ Terry said. “I always want my name to be called. As a competitor and just me being a rookie, I’m never gonna stop until I feel like I’m somebody in this league.

“With the position I’m in right now, it’s just like you’ve gotta embrace it, but you can’t ever get comfortable. I can’t get comfortable with learning every day and not playing. I just have to find that balance.’’

That’s no easy task for Terry.

To label Terry as high-energy is an understatement. Unfortunately for the guard out of Arizona, that same energy is also why the game hasn’t slowed down enough for him to the point where the coaching staff is comfortable making Terry a regular in the rotation.

By all accounts, his jumper continues to improve in practice and scrimmages, he has shown glimpses of being an electric passer and playmaker and his defense is rotation-ready, but until Terry can dial back the RPMs on the floor, he remains a work in progress.

He only has played in 14 games, mostly in mop-up duty.

“I’ve never sat like this [at any level] in my life,’’ Terry said.

That’s why he finds himself talking to so many people about it. Terry joked that they all give him the same answer, and he knows what the response will be, but he still needs to hear it.

“You just always want to know why,’’ Terry said. “So just talking to some of the vets — obviously you guys know my relationship with DeMar. He just always tells me, ‘Kobe [Bryant] didn’t play a bunch his first three years.’ He’s always sending me videos on how Kobe channeled why he [wasn’t] playing and used it to get better. Did the things the coach wanted him to do, and he’s one of the greatest of all time.

“Just lean on guys in my corner, like NBA players I grew up around. They all tell me, ‘This is normal for rookies to go through this.’ If you’re not a top-five pick, there’s a chance you go through something like this. My freshman year in college, I went from starting and playing 25 minutes to coming off the bench and playing 18 minutes, and it was hard for me to even do that.’’

So how does he channel all that energy during games? Just watch Terry during timeouts or key baskets, especially if it’s a bucket by his mentor, DeRozan, who has taken him under his wing. In return, there’s no bigger DeRozan hype man on the roster than Terry.

Whether it’s choreographed dances or simply yelling from the sideline, Terry has embraced trying to be the best teammate he can be as he waits for his name to be called.

“Just keep working and getting my game more polished,’’ Terry said. “Just waiting for my time.’’