Bulls Give Antonio Blakeney NBA Contract
The Bulls have been quite busy over the past couple of weeks with the re-signing of Zach LaVine and the signing of Jabari Parker. But they still weren’t satisfied with their roster. To fill another spot, they decided to look within the organization. Particularly, Antonio Blakeney.
Fresh off 21 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game in the Summer League, Blakeney was signed to an NBA contract expected to last for two years. The combo guard had a two-way contract last season and was named the G League Rookie of the Year with the Windy City Bulls. He won the G League scoring title with 32 points a game, 7.6 points higher than anyone else. In the one game I attended in Hoffman Estates (and got to show off my own skills), he approached that average by scoring 30.
Blakeney got to play 19 games with the parent club, mostly in November and March. The undrafted LSU product averaged 7.9 points while shooting 37.1 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line. His season high of 16 points came twice: in a Nov. 15 loss to Oklahoma City and a March 19 defeat to New York at Madison Square Garden. Actually, most of heavy-minute games came during losses, usually of the blowout variety.
Whatever the circumstances for his NBA play last season, Blakeney has outgrown the G League. He had nothing left to prove except maybe leading the league in scoring again. While that would have been a nice honor, professional athletes would rather have regular work at their sport’s highest level. Though all the young talent the Bulls have accumulated will place him low on the totem pole once again, there’s no doubt he’ll take the guaranteed NBA contract.
Of course, this new deal doesn’t mean Blakeney won’t spend further time with the Windy City Bulls. It’s not unheard of for players low on the depth chart to play games with them so can further develop and also get some game action. Cristiano Felicio played eight games for them last season, and Cameron Payne was there for three games while coming back from a foot injury. Don’t be surprised if the Bulls send him to the team on off nights.
G League Rookie of the Year does not mean NBA stardom is a sure thing. The most prominent names on the list include Robert Covington, Alonzo Gee, Louis Amundson, Will Bynum and Devin Brown. Those most likely caused you to yawn and tap your “meh” emoji. But at least the Bulls realize they might have a solid role player on their hands for the time being.
Blakeney has earned his place in the NBA, and the Bulls are the team to provide him with that opportunity. It would be a great story if we saw him more often in meaningful minutes than garbage time. To do that, he’s going to have to prove himself in training camp, the preseason and ultimately, games that count. Here’s to the potential feel-good story of the Bulls’ upcoming season, which could be more impressive than any Parker renaissance if all goes right.
