Opportunity knocks with the Bulls for ex-UW star Koenig

CHICAGO - When he signed his first professional contract July 6, Bronson Koenig expected he would be at the United Center for Friday's game. What he didn't foresee was he'd be suiting up for the Chicago Bulls.

Koenig, a four-year star at Wisconsin, inked a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks early in the summer and has been described by Bucks general manager Jon Horst as a virtual "pick No. 61" in the draft, someone targeted in the immediate aftermath of the draft.

Koenig spent the summer with the Bucks and competed in summer league, averaging 5.2 points on 29.4% shooting in 15.8 minutes per game. He participated in team events, including the annual golf outing, and was expected to provide a local draw for the inaugural season of the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks' G League affiliate in Oshkosh.

That all changed when the Bucks waived Koenig on Sept. 21.

"The Bucks said they wanted more experience, so I kind of knew ahead of time they were going to release me," Koenig said before Friday's game, noting he learned he would be released a few weeks before it happened.

"It was surprising, but at the same time not because the two-way thing is such a new contract (option) that a lot of teams don't really even know how to do it, I guess, or how to work it. It's whatever. It is what it is."

The Bulls added Koenig on a training-camp deal a week later.

He did not appear in either of Chicago's first two preseason games, though he appreciates the opportunity considering he hit the free-agent market so close to the start of camp.

It's also possible that this will lead to Koenig sticking around this season, more likely in the G League with the Windy City Bulls.

"It's pretty open, but I think here or Windy City is probably the most likely," Koenig said of his potential landing spot. "Obviously if I play for Windy City then any team in the league can call me up, which is positive. Just trying to learn as much as I can."

Koenig's early experience — having a two-way contract with the Bucks, playing summer league, then getting waived and joining a new team during camp — has been a bit of a roller-coaster.

Through that, he's learned first-hand about the business side of the NBA.

"My agent has been joking that I've seen a lot of different sides to it already as a rookie," Koenig said. "It is a business for sure. Got to take the feelings and emotions out of it."

But Koenig is still a human. He has spent his whole life in Wisconsin, starring at La Crosse Aquinas and UW, and was supposed to keep that streak going as a professional with the Herd and Bucks.

While it might have been a letdown, Koenig's choosing to look only at the positives.

"I've been in Wisconsin all my life, so it's a little refreshing to get out of the state a little bit," he said. "Chicago's a great city so I'm really excited for this opportunity. Young team; hopefully I can come in and contribute in any way I can."