PORTIS TALKS INJURY, NOT REGRET
Injured Portis stands by his choice to turn down extension
Bulls big man Bobby Portis has regrets, but none of a contractual nature.
When Portis turned down an extension late in training camp, opting to bet on himself and become a restricted free agent next summer, he knew the risk of injury was part of the gamble.
Now that he’s sidelined until possibly mid-December with a sprained right medial collateral ligament, it’s only normal to wonder if he’s second-guessing his contract decision.
“Not at all,’’ he said Tuesday. “Can’t second-guess yourself. Basketball gods don’t bless people that way. It doesn’t work that way. In life, obviously you have a choice. I made mine, I’m happy with what I did, and I’m just living life one day at a time.
“Obviously, injuries are a part of life. Things happen, players get hurt, and they’re curable. So at some point in the season, I’ll be back at full strength, and I’ll be back doing what Bobby Portis does.”
Portis does regret not being able to help a suddenly sinking, short-handed lineup — especially after the Warriors embarrassed the Bulls in a 149-124 blowout Monday night.
“Every team goes through a night like [Monday] night where you just get outtoughed, get outmanned,” Portis said. “But in this league, the best thing is it’s an 82game season. There’s always games ahead to look forward to.”
Just not for Portis for the immediate future. He hurt his knee last week running into Tony Parker in a victory over the Hornets. Initially, the Bulls feared it was a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which would have been a season-ender for Portis, who’s averaging 10.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. More than that, Portis also has emerged as a vocal leader on the floor and an emotional leader in the locker room.
“Kind of relieved that it’s four to six weeks and not the entire season or even more,” Portis said. “I’ve been blessed to play this game my whole life not having to ever sit out. That’s what hurts the most. I’ve always been a team guy. Ever since I’ve got here, [the] only thing I’ve ever talked or preached was team.”
As for the other injured Bulls, coach Fred Hoiberg said Denzel Valentine (left ankle) is scheduled for a re-evaluation later this week, while Lauri Markkanen (right elbow) continues ramping up his activity in hopes of returning in midto late-November. Like Portis, Kris Dunn (left knee) is still a ways out with a sprained MCL of his own.
That’s a lot of “extra coaches” sitting around the locker room these days, and none louder than Portis.
“It does hurt to sit there in the training room and watch the game, but when they come back, I try to talk as much as possible, try to do the little things, so just being around, somebody asks me for advice, I can give it to them,” Portis said. “I’ve been through just about everything you can go through now in the league in four years.”
NOTE: The Bulls exercised their thirdyear option on Lauri Markkanen and fourth-year options on Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine, keeping all three players under contract for the 2019-20 season.
“OBVIOUSLY, INJURIES ARE A PART OF LIFE. THINGS HAPPEN, PLAYERS
GET HURT, AND THEY’RE CURABLE. SO AT SOME POINT IN THE SEASON, I’LL BE BACK AT FULL STRENGTH, AND I’LL BE BACK DOING WHAT BOBBY PORTIS DOES.”
BOBBY PORTIS