{"id":150554,"date":"2026-02-08T23:48:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:48:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=150554"},"modified":"2026-02-08T23:48:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T23:48:32","slug":"%f0%9f%94%a5-breaking-new-bull-rob-dillingham-in-search-of-confidence-that-was-stripped-away-and-his-journey-back-is-becoming-one-of-the-most-compelling-storylines-in-the-nba-after-flashes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=150554","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udd25 BREAKING: New Bull Rob Dillingham in search of confidence that was stripped away \u2014 and his journey back is becoming one of the most compelling storylines in the NBA! After flashes of immense potential that never fully materialized, the young guard is now determined to reclaim his swagger and prove he belongs among the league\u2019s next breakout stars..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net\/tenant\/amp\/entityid\/AA1VKR5T.img?w=1200&amp;h=630&amp;m=4&amp;q=85\" alt=\"Timberwolves trade Rob Dillingham to Bulls in multi-player deal\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"191\" data-end=\"220\"><strong data-start=\"191\" data-end=\"220\">Say it without saying it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"222\" data-end=\"634\">That has been the approach <strong data-start=\"249\" data-end=\"267\">Rob Dillingham<\/strong> has taken since arriving in Chicago, carefully choosing his words while subtly revealing the reality of what went wrong during his brief and frustrating stint with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Much like the way he weaves through defenders on the court, Dillingham has navigated questions about his past with patience, restraint, and maturity well beyond his 21 years.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"636\" data-end=\"1035\">Behind the scenes, league sources indicate that Dillingham and Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch were never fully aligned after Minnesota selected the dynamic guard with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Expectations were high, but trust and opportunity never truly followed. Still, Dillingham has made it clear he has no interest in fueling a public back-and-forth or assigning blame.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1037\" data-end=\"1117\">What <em data-start=\"1042\" data-end=\"1047\">has<\/em> been clear, however, is the emotional toll the situation took on him.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1258\">When Dillingham arrived in Chicago, he did so with undeniable talent\u2014but also with visibly shaken confidence. He didn\u2019t attempt to hide it.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1499\">\u201cJust confidence,\u201d Dillingham said when asked what he needs to take the next step in his NBA journey. \u201cConfidence from my teammates, confidence from my coaches. I just feel like I haven\u2019t gotten a super opportunity where I feel confident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1501\" data-end=\"1544\">It wasn\u2019t a complaint. It was an admission.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1546\" data-end=\"1623\">Dillingham emphasized that the work never stopped, even when the minutes did.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1625\" data-end=\"1776\">\u201cI\u2019ve been working the whole time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not like it automatically left where I wasn\u2019t as good. I\u2019m just waiting for the spark to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1778\" data-end=\"1821\">That spark may have arrived Saturday night.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1823\" data-end=\"2202\">In his debut with the Bulls, Dillingham logged a <strong data-start=\"1872\" data-end=\"1898\">season-high 22 minutes<\/strong>, scored <strong data-start=\"1907\" data-end=\"1922\">nine points<\/strong>, and showcased a skill set Chicago fans haven\u2019t seen from a point guard in years. He orchestrated two highlight-reel alley-oop dunks, attacked the paint with confidence, and most importantly, injected speed and creativity into an offense that has long felt rigid and predictable.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2277\">For head coach <strong data-start=\"2219\" data-end=\"2236\">Billy Donovan<\/strong>, the contrast was immediate and obvious.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2279\" data-end=\"2482\">\u201cAt times we\u2019ve struggled to get downhill,\u201d Donovan admitted. \u201cHe\u2019s the one guy when the ball is in his hand that can really break people down, play off the dribble, and put some pressure on the basket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2279\" data-end=\"2482\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/athletic\/uploads\/wp\/2024\/07\/22090111\/GettyImages-2161997607-scaled-e1721653362891.jpg?width=1200&amp;height=1200&amp;fit=cover\" alt=\"Rob Dillingham flourishes in summer-league finale: 'He's gonna be a  prolific scorer' - The Athletic\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2505\">That ability matters.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2507\" data-end=\"2770\">The Bulls have had guards with speed before, but not <em data-start=\"2560\" data-end=\"2566\">this<\/em> kind of speed. Ayo Dosunmu had straight-line acceleration. Coby White used strength and power to drive. Josh Giddey brings size and vision. Even Lonzo Ball, at his best, was more methodical than elusive.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2772\" data-end=\"2796\">Dillingham is different.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2798\" data-end=\"3040\">He has quickness, but more importantly, he has <strong data-start=\"2845\" data-end=\"2855\">wiggle<\/strong>\u2014the kind that forces defenses to shift, hesitate, and collapse. That skill alone can bend an entire defensive scheme, and it\u2019s something Donovan believes must be unlocked and elevated.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3042\" data-end=\"3255\">At the same time, Donovan isn\u2019t ignoring the questions surrounding Dillingham\u2019s time in Minnesota. A deeper conversation is coming, and Donovan wants honesty\u2014both for Dillingham\u2019s growth and for the team\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3257\" data-end=\"3501\">\u201cMinnesota has been trying to find another guard to take another step,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cThey\u2019ve been to the Western Conference Finals, so I\u2019m looking forward to talking to him like, \u2018Why weren\u2019t you playing when they were looking for somebody?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3503\" data-end=\"3563\">The question isn\u2019t meant to criticize\u2014it\u2019s meant to educate.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3565\" data-end=\"3743\">\u201cThis is my whole point with young players,\u201d Donovan continued. \u201cThey\u2019ve got to understand what goes into winning. It\u2019s not just about talent. It\u2019s about how you impact winning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3745\" data-end=\"3921\">Whether Dillingham simply wasn\u2019t the right fit, or whether there were developmental gaps that needed addressing, Donovan wants clarity. That process, he believes, is essential.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3923\" data-end=\"3973\">Fortunately for both sides, time is on their side.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3975\" data-end=\"4264\">Of the four new guards Chicago acquired, <strong data-start=\"4016\" data-end=\"4033\">Collin Sexton<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"4038\" data-end=\"4057\">Anfernee Simons<\/strong> are unrestricted free agents, while <strong data-start=\"4094\" data-end=\"4108\">Jaden Ivey<\/strong> is restricted. Dillingham, meanwhile, is only in <strong data-start=\"4158\" data-end=\"4191\">Year 2 of his rookie contract<\/strong>, giving the Bulls a longer runway to evaluate, develop, and empower him.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4266\" data-end=\"4303\">That opportunity alone is meaningful.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4305\" data-end=\"4449\">\u201cOpportunity is really however many minutes I get,\u201d Dillingham said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s five, 10, 15, or 20, I\u2019m just trying to do the most with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4451\" data-end=\"4562\">He understands the situation. He understands the stakes. And he understands that nothing will be handed to him.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4564\" data-end=\"4693\">\u201cCoach said he feels like it\u2019s a better offense I can run and will be helpful for me,\u201d Dillingham added. \u201cI just want to fit in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4695\" data-end=\"4791\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">For the Bulls, and for Dillingham himself, that may be the most important starting point of all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Say it without saying it. That has been the approach Rob Dillingham has taken since arriving in Chicago, carefully choosing his words while subtly revealing the reality&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":150555,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-150554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udd25 BREAKING: New Bull Rob Dillingham in search of confidence that was stripped away \u2014 and his journey back is becoming one of the most compelling storylines in the NBA! After flashes of immense potential that never fully materialized, the young guard is now determined to reclaim his swagger and prove he belongs among the league\u2019s next breakout stars..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=150554\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udd25 BREAKING: New Bull Rob Dillingham in search of confidence that was stripped away \u2014 and his journey back is becoming one of the most compelling storylines in the NBA! 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