Bulls PG Kris Dunn isn’t worried about outside noise concerning his future

SHARE Bulls PG Kris Dunn isn’t worried about outside noise concerning his future
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MIAMI — Bulls point guard Kris Dunn wasn’t flinching Friday.

As he put it, “I don’t get shook.”

The Sun-Times reported Thursday that multiple NBA sources are saying the Bulls have been scouting veteran point guards as the Feb. 7 trade deadline approaches and Dunn needs to prove his worth to the front office in the remaining 30 games.

Dunn wasn’t about to get caught up in outside noise like that.

Because that’s exactly what it is to him — noise.

“I’m just running out there and hoop,” Dunn said. “Play the way I’ve been playing. Keep coming in and working hard. Try to get as many wins as we can.

“I don’t feel no pressure. I don’t get shook in situations like that. I just come in, do my job, work hard and be a leader for this team.”

Those aren’t just words.

Anyone who knows Dunn’s background knows that there’s very little in the game — or in the business side of the game — that makes him blink.

When Dunn was 1, his mother, Pia, left Connecticut with Kris and his older brother, John, without telling their father, John Seldon. Seldon searched for years to find them, despite not getting any help from the courts.

Meanwhile, Pia was in and out of trouble in Alexandria, Virginia, before being incarcerated when Dunn was 9. Afraid to let anyone know that they were by themselves, Kris and his brother hustled to get food and pay rent. John won money with trick dice, and Kris would play local teenagers in one-on-one for $20 a game.

Kris told the Sun-Times last season that there were times when those $20 bets were made even when John didn’t have the money to pay up if Kris happened to lose.

“Now that’s pressure,” Dunn said then.

So don’t expect Dunn to be fazed if the Bulls come up with a Plan B and have a veteran guard looking over his shoulder next season.

“It don’t really matter to me,” Dunn said. “Right now, I’m a Bull, so be a Bull. Whatever happens down the journey, if I go to another team, I’m going to show my fight there.”

Dunn hopes it doesn’t come to that, and he said he has had “a solid year, for sure,” pointing out that he has had to deal with a knee injury, a coaching change and an ever-changing lineup.

Coach Jim Boylen just wants to see his point guard clean up the obvious mistakes in the final stretch of the season, starting with turnovers.

“I want to see more consistency,” Boylen said. “I want to see less unforced errors — I guess that’s a tennis term — but less unforced errors. Tighten up his turnovers, continue to play with confidence, continue to pick up his teammates.”

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NOTES: The Bulls acquired 6-6 guard/forward Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and cash considerations from the Thunder on Friday for a protected second-round pick in 2020. To make room, the Bulls waived former perennial All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

— Forward Jabari Parker left the team because of a death in the family and will miss the game against the Hornets on Saturday in Charlotte. Zach LaVine (ankles) practiced Friday and will be re-evaluated before the game. Wayne Selden (knee) sat out practice and will be a game-time decision.

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