The Chicago Bulls ended their NBA Las Vegas 2K25 Summer League performance going 2-for-3 in five games. Despite losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in their games, the Bulls had a better overview of how their rookie and signed summer league players could fit into the franchise’s goal. After the Bull’s summer leagues exhibit, the franchise signed DJ Steward on a two-way contract.
Was DJ Steward a great signing for the Bulls? Given the club’s struggle for the past two seasons, Steward should help the Bulls solve the club’s struggle despite being on a two-way contract. Thus, what qualifies the 22-year-old guard to elevate the club?
DJ Steward’s Performance At The Summer League
The Chicago Bulls started their Summer League exhibit strong to clinch their debut win against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Steward struggled to exceed the Bull fan’s expectations. Thus, the 6’ 2 guard got 10 points, six assists, four rebounds, three steals and a block. Also, he shot 31.3% in field goals (5-of-16). Further, Steward’s offense was average; while his defense was decent which meant there was room for improvement.
The Bulls went on to lose their next two Summer League matches, however, Steward’s performance improved gradually. The 22-year-old guard started making attempts on threes and improved in his field goals. Against the Golden State Warriors, Steward made 62.5% of his field goals on low attempts (5-of-8) and 50% against the Detroit Pistons (6-of-12). Also, there are two takeaways about DJ Steward’s performance that make him a good player for the Chicago Bulls.
Finally, the performance that exceeded the Bulls fans’ expectations was when the 22-year-old played against the Atlanta Hawks. Steward bagged 37 points, seven assists, and two rebounds, shooting 57.9% in field goals (11-of-19) and 57.1% (8-of-14) in three points to lead his team to their second win. Finally, against the Lakers, Steward’s performance could defeat the opposing team’s defense. Thus, what are these two takeaways about DJ Steward’s game that should benefit the Bulls?
Steward’s Outlook With The Chicago Bulls
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DJ Steward played college basketball at the Duke Blue Devils for one season; then, he enrolled as a 2021 NBA Draft prospect, yet got undrafted. Therefore, the 6’ 2 guard played in the G-League for the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics G League teams. Finally, he became a free agent in 2023 after the Celtics waived him; then the Bulls signed him to their Summer League team. With solid basketball experience, the 22-year-old brings these two crucial skills as a youngster to the Bulls’ franchise. These skills are high improvement potential and playmaking skills. Therefore, given the Chicago Bulls’ off-season goals, Steward should be a good fit for the franchise.
Throughout the Bulls’ Summer League exhibit, the 22-year-old improved his offensive game gradually to average 17.4 points in five games, shooting 47% from the field and 40.3% from beyond the arc. Also, as a playmaker, Steward averaged 6.4 assists and 2.2 turnovers per game with nine assists in his debut game. Finally, as a G League player, he averaged 46.3% in field goals and 36.3% beyond the arc in 90 games.
Now, the Bulls struggled offensively in past seasons which made the club qualified championship contenders. Thus building the roster with a youngster like DJ Steward gives the Bulls a better advantage offensively, given that the 22-year-old performs well when called upon. Also, while on this two-way contract, the Bulls can properly monitor Steward’s growth and have him on a standard NBA Contract.
Final Thoughts
The Chicago Bulls’ offseason goal is to build their team’s roster with young and experienced players including DJ Steward. Thus, the franchise traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and DeMar DeRozan to the Kings. These moves are losses that could affect the team’s performance on the court. However long-term, it’s a good move to groom their youngsters into a winning culture mentality.
Steward displayed some 3-and-D potential during this NBA 2K25 Summer League. The 6’ 2 guard averaged 1.4 steals per game which depicts his sharp defensive instincts. After the 2024 NBA Playoffs, NBA teams desire to build their roster with more 3-and-D players. Therefore, in the long run, the Bulls should be covered with Steward on their roster.
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