Joel Lorenzi
@jxlorenzi.bsky.social
Chicago-based NBA writer for The Athletic. Joe-L. Past: Thunder for The Oklahoman. Mizzou alum. Out West forever. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/joel-lorenzi/
Hey man. Bulls canceled it because the rain today would make the conditions in the park tomorrow less-than-ideal. But it’s my understanding that teams are mandated to do an open practice, so I think they’re considering doing it at the facility.
rodam@rodam.bsky.social · 3d ago@jxlorenzi.bsky.social yo boss do you have any details on that Bulls Open Practice for tomorrow? You’re the only one to have reported on its postponement so just wondering what’s up
I’m doing pull ups, gaining 10 pounds of muscle
Julia Poe@juliapoe.bsky.social · 6d agoStart time for the Bulls has been delayed nearly 90 minutes, you can imagine the heights of beat morale
Of all places, Joakim Noah begrudgingly revisited Cleveland back in January. This was not vacation. It wasn’t even so much about the city. Or the Cavs, or LeBron. He needed to face his past, his old purpose, to grow. Noah wants to be comfortable again: www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...
Joakim Noah is done fighting ghosts — LeBron, Cleveland, even his own last name (Gift Article)
For Noah, growth requires tracing his past. It leads the longtime Bulls enforcer back to a family legacy that forever echoes.
nytimes.com
I keep seeing responses like this to a story I thought was pretty fair and clear about how I viewed the context of SL. What “label” did I give Dailyn other than saying he wasn’t confident?
VicB@victorb917.bsky.social · 3mo agoCan you let him play ONE game before you label him? Damn!
Bulls fans: I’m doing an AMA on the Bulls subreddit (r/chicagobulls) on Tuesday, July 21, at 1 pm CT. Leave whatever questions y’all might have and I’ll answer all of them. Link here 👇🏼 www.reddit.com/r/chicagobul...
From the chicagobulls community on Reddit: Join The Athletic's Bulls beat writer, Joel Lorenzi, for an AMA chat this Tuesday!
Explore this post and more from the chicagobulls community
reddit.com
Bulls fans: I’m doing an AMA on the Bulls subreddit (r/chicagobulls) on Tuesday, July 21, at 1 pm CT. Leave whatever questions y’all might have and I’ll answer all of them. Link here 👇🏼 www.reddit.com/r/chicagobul...
From the chicagobulls community on Reddit: Join The Athletic's Bulls beat writer, Joel Lorenzi, for an AMA chat this Tuesday!
Explore this post and more from the chicagobulls community
reddit.com
Dailyn Swain has plenty of time to make forget about his Summer League performance. He’ll need to begin with his own confidence: www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...
Dailyn Swain has time to bounce back — if he can get out of his head
nytimes.com
At @theathletic.com: Norman Powell is a Bull. The two-year deal uses basically the remainder of Chicago's cap space and puts it at 14 guaranteed deals. Bryson Graham finally has a shooter: www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...
Norman Powell, Bulls agree to 2-year, $45 million contract: Sources
nytimes.com
Caleb Wilson’s introduction was more like a continuation of all the ambitious breadcrumbs he’s already dropped. He wants it all, for himself and for the Bulls: www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...
Caleb Wilson stakes claim in Bulls rebuild, pledges to 'get this city back where it was'
nytimes.com
Wrote about what this draft signaled about Bryson Graham’s vision and what the new Bulls regime is after in the near future. Unlocked for all: www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...
What drafting Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain says about new Bulls regime
nytimes.com
My guy @dustindopirak.bsky.social was first on Twitter, but can confirm that the Bulls received Kam Jones, cash and 2028 + 2030 2nd round swaps in the deal with Indiana for the 38th pick. Bulls traded out of the second round tonight entirely.
I’m never on this app because stretching my digital footprint is truly exhausting, but hey — the Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson, y’all
Yep. I imagine staff will lean, at least a little bit, into Wilson’s post stuff and even use him some as a DHO guy. IJoe connection would do wonders to usher Wilson along. But also, Joe and Claxton enable concepts and playstyles no one on this roster has extensive experience with in the NBA
Jason Patt@bullsjay.bsky.social · 3mo agoBelieve @jxlorenzi.bsky.social mentioned this last night and we talked about this on pod with @yossigozlan.bsky.social pod but the Bulls should absolutely be calling the Thunder about Isaiah Joe. Picks last night were good but there's almost zero shooting on the roster and Joe will gladly rain 3s.
NEWS: The Timberwolves are trading Julius Randle to the Nets in a deal that also includes Nic Claxton being sent to the Bulls, sources tell @jonkrawczynski.bsky.social and @jxlorenzi.bsky.social.
Awesome mix of feature reporting and game reporting in @jxlorenzi.bsky.social's piece on Jared McCain (free to read)
Jared McCain, fueled by tattered passage, stars in Thunder role with unflappable confidence (Gift Article)
“It’s never about proving anybody wrong for me,” McCain said after Game 3. “It’s always proving the people who believe in me right.”
nytimes.com
“It felt like (Ajay) had 100.” Oklahoma City’s depth allowed Ajay Mitchell to be a sponge in a title season. Now the team’s depth, and the call for it, might be unveiling a potential star. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...
Ajay Mitchell’s breakout was another sign of the Thunder’s impressive depth (Gift Article)
Mitchell's star performance again underscored the Thunder's biggest advantage — the immense depth of talent on their roster.
nytimes.com
(free to read) If the evidence did not feel overwhelming, take last night’s third quarter. These Thunder seem inevitable: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...
Thunder proved their inevitability extends beyond SGA: ‘They know how to win’ (Gift Article)
In nearly 33 minutes with Gilgeous-Alexander off the floor in this series, the Thunder are a plus-21.
nytimes.com
On Ajay Mitchell’s story, which is also Barry Mitchell’s story:
“It was a dream of his to be an NBA player for as long as I could remember. Just trying to honor him in that way. I’m living this dream for me, obviously, but also for him.” @jxlorenzi.bsky.social on how Ajay Mitchell is carrying the dreams of his late father: www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...
To sense where Ajay Mitchell is headed, to understand the composure he plays with, you need to know who he plays for. A look at the love and loss behind Oklahoma City’s breakout guard (free for all to read): www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...
🆕 @theathletic.com Game 1 TAEKS from Oklahoma City with @danwoikesports.bsky.social @jxlorenzi.bsky.social @darnellmayberry.bsky.social I wrote about JJ Redick's aggressive timeout usage www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...
Thunder run away with Game 1, but Lakers show some fight: Takeaways
nytimes.com
Tip times for Thunder-Lakers thru Game 4. Game 1 is a 7:30 CT tip on NBC/Peacock.
This is also free to read! No paywall! Virtually any story I share from our site (particularly my stories) will not feature a paywall.
Joel Lorenzi@jxlorenzi.bsky.social · 5mo ago(Apologies for neglecting my followers here, but my latest here as I cover this Thunder playoff run for @theathletic.com) Forgive the Thunder if they seemed Monday night like a team that might savor this sweep. They’ve learned to: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...
No better authority on the Thunder than my guy @jxlorenzi.bsky.social. Give him a follow, if you aren't already, #NBASky.
Joel Lorenzi@jxlorenzi.bsky.social · 5mo ago(Apologies for neglecting my followers here, but my latest here as I cover this Thunder playoff run for @theathletic.com) Forgive the Thunder if they seemed Monday night like a team that might savor this sweep. They’ve learned to: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...
(Apologies for neglecting my followers here, but my latest here as I cover this Thunder playoff run for @theathletic.com) Forgive the Thunder if they seemed Monday night like a team that might savor this sweep. They’ve learned to: www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...
Thunder are still ‘evolving,’ and a recent sweep showed how far they’ve come (Gift Article)
"There’s still areas to improve. Greatness is always chasing something," Alex Caruso said after the Thunder eliminated the Suns in a sweep.
nytimes.com
SGA and the Oklahoma City Thunder won three out of five regular-season games against the Phoenix Suns this season. @jxlorenzi.bsky.social and @doughaller.bsky.social preview their series ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...
Thunder vs. Suns NBA playoffs preview: The race for a repeat — or a far-fetched upset
nytimes.com
Bulls fire GM Marc Eversley, executive Artūras Karnišovas in front-office shakeup www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...
Bulls fire Artūras Karnišovas, Marc Eversley in front-office shakeup
nytimes.com
The Bulls officially announce the release of Jaden Ivey. He’s delivered some controversial comments across several Instagram livestreams over the past week, capped this morning by his anti-LGBTQ remarks.
Chicago's play-in streak is severed. The timer to the end of a turbulent season began Friday night. These Bulls will need to find something new to play for: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...
Bulls knocked out of postseason contention for first time since 2021. What now?
After a trade deadline fire sale and a winless February, the Bulls will go without a Play-In or playoff berth for the first time since 2021.
nytimes.com