The 2018-19 season has been a trying one for the Chicago Bulls, who have gone through a pair of head coaches, injuries to key players and currently sit at 19-51 on the season entering play Sunday. But for point guard Ryan Arcidiacono, this year has been an opportunity, one he believes he has seized, saying to K.C. Johnson:
“I've just proven to myself and to everyone that I can play in this league and make an impact. I feel I can guard, be a solid backup and whatever the team needs, they're going to get it from me.”
Arcidiacono has appeared in 69 games (28 starts) for the Bulls, averaging 6.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field overall and 37 percent from deep.
After nearly heading to Italy to begin his professional career in 2017, Arcidiacono has latched on with the Chicago Bulls, appearing in just 24 games as a rookie in 2017-18. He got his two-way contract upgraded to an NBA deal for this year, filling in at key moments when injuries put Kris Dunn on the shelf.
Arcidiacono arrived in the pro ranks as the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in 2016, having led his Villanova Wildcats to a National Championship victory. He was named Big East Co-Player of the Year in 2015, spending four years in college, allowing him to time to develop in the college ranks.
Now, he finds himself filling a backup role behind Dunn and Zach LaVine, who look to have a stronghold on ball-handling duties in Chicago. But after going undrafted and nearly heading to the other side of the globe, coming off the bench is a much better view.
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