Valentine’s day coming
Swingman eager to prove to bulls he isn’t injury risk
Though this will be a pivotal season for Denzel Valentine, the 6-6 swingman is keeping his goals simple: stay healthy and help the Bulls make the playoffs. After sitting out all of last season with an ankle injury, Valentine wants to show he has staying power.
“I just have to prove that I can be healthy and that I’m back looking good, feeling good,” Valentine said. “Play hard 82 games, definitely want to do that. I definitely want to contribute and do whatever I can.”
Valentine, who’s set to be a restricted free agent next summer, isn’t worrying about his next contract. He’s focused on proving he can be a valuable part of the Bulls’ second unit.
He prides himself on being versatile. After receiving spotty playing time as a rookie, he showed promise in his second season. Valentine averaged 10.2 points off the bench, and he became a promising three-point shooter, hitting at a 38.6 percent clip.
Then his ankle failed him.
Watching last season from the bench was agonizing at times for Valentine, who had ankle-stabilization surgery in November. But the time off gave him an opportunity to fully heal from an injury that had bothered him during his first two seasons in the NBA.
Now at 100 percent, Valentine is ready to do some damage.
“I’m feeling great,” Valentine said. “I’m feeling healthy. I worked my butt off to get to where I’m at now. So I’m just really excited and anxious about this year.”
To clarify: It’s a good anxious.
With what could be a big season ahead of him, Valentine joined the SunTimes this week in the Chat Room.