Bulls news: Chicago make heartwarming NBA preseason gesture to Lonzo Ball
On Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers for their second preseason game in a rematch of their exhibition contest back on Tuesday. Despite being two division rivals, the two teams clearly have a good working relationship. This was evident in how they managed to strike a trade this past offseason, with the
Ball was a part of the Bulls roster for four seasons, although he did play in just a total of 70 games for the franchise after knee injuries rendered him a shell of his former self and prevented him from suiting up for two full seasons. This made his return to the hardwood last season all the more celebrated, as it was a big deal that he was able to get himself back to NBA form after some initial fears that he may not be able to walk again.
On Thursday night, with the game being at United Center, they wasted no time showing love to one of their former players — with the Bulls playing a video package
A lot of Ball's impact on the court cannot be measured on the box score, and his arrival in 2021 set a winning culture for the franchise. It did help that the Bulls also brought in DeMar DeRozan during that offseason, but Ball was a difference-maker on the defensive end, and he did so many little things to help his team win, like fight for loose balls and be a reliable floor-spacer.
The 2021-22 Bulls went 22-13 with Ball in the lineup and 24-23 without him. It's no coincidence that the Bulls struggled to compete even in the weaker East when Ball was on the mend, nursing a knee injury.
Bulls move on from Lonzo Ball as he moves on to a contender
The Cavs definitely have high hopes for Ball and how healthy he would be this upcoming season if they were confident enough to trade away Okoro, a rotation fixture and a beloved locker-room member, for him.
Meanwhile, the Bulls are trusting the youth, with Josh Giddey, Coby White, and Matas Buzelis expected to lead the team from here on out. Noa Essengue has shown flashes of being a two-way force as well. But this Bulls squad definitely needs a lot more pieces to be a legitimate playoff team out East.
Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets Series History: Which team holds the edge heading to London?
The Denver Broncos and New York Jets have a rivalry that dates back to the old AFL days in the 1960s. They will now take it across the pond to London.
The Broncos have played in just two games since the start of the NFL International Series, with this being their first game in another country since October 30, 2022. The Jets have played in three games in the series, with the most recent coming last season in a 23-17 loss to the
The Broncos and Jets have faced each other 42 times across their histories, with the Broncos holding a close edge in the all-time series,
The Jets have two separate three-game winning streaks over the Broncos and the Broncos won five straight over the Jets from 1967 to 1976. Aside from that, it's been like a teeter-totter.
Denver won the most recent meeting, beating the Jets 10-9 on the road on a rain-soaked field at MetLife Stadium. That got the Broncos to 2-2 on the season and though it wasn't pretty, it was a key win for the team.
The Broncos have a 1-1 record in international games while the Jets are 1-2. It will be a big game for both teams as the Broncos are sitting at 3-2 on the season following a huge win over the
The Broncos and Jets are scheduled for kickoff at 7:30 AM Mountain time and the game will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. It will be televised on NFL Network. Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner will call the action.
