Jalen Smith's Redemption Season: How Chicago Bulls' Big Man Found His Rhythm
The Chicago Bulls' 2024-25 season has been a mixed bag, with the team struggling to find consistency and momentum. But among the players who have stepped up to fill the void is big man Jalen Smith, affectionately known as "Stix" by fans and teammates alike.
Last year's experiment with two-big-man lineups was marked by Smith's struggles to make an impact. Despite being touted as a key addition in free agency, he consistently underperformed on the court, leading to dwindling playing time and eventually being relegated to the bench. This season, however, is a different story.
Smith has taken it upon himself to address his shortcomings from last year, putting in extra work during the offseason to improve his game. And it's paid off. With 18.7 minutes per game, Smith is seeing more court time than ever before, averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds while drawing charges at a rate tied for third on the team.
But statistics don't tell the whole story. Smith's impressive plus/minus numbers – he's led the Bulls in this category through 41 games, with only Collins and Coby White coming close to matching his mark of +61 – suggest that he's bringing an extra level of energy and intensity to the court.
His teammates are taking notice too. Nikola Vucevic, Smith's fellow big man, has praised his teammate for playing "power forward and center" in different situations and positions, protecting the paint and rebounding with physicality. The two have formed a strong chemistry on the court, making their two-big-man lineup a game-changer.
As the Bulls navigate a crowded playoff landscape, Smith's emergence as a reliable contributor has given them an added layer of depth and flexibility. Whether it's trading Vucevic or Collins' expiring contract, the front office will take notice of Smith's ability to hold his own alongside other top players.
For now, though, Smith is content with doing what it takes to stay on the court – rebounding, blocking shots, and impacting the game in any way possible. As he puts it, "It's about being ready at any point and time." And by all accounts, Stix is more than ready to take his place among the Bulls' top players.
The Chicago Bulls' 2024-25 season has been a mixed bag, with the team struggling to find consistency and momentum. But among the players who have stepped up to fill the void is big man Jalen Smith, affectionately known as "Stix" by fans and teammates alike.
Last year's experiment with two-big-man lineups was marked by Smith's struggles to make an impact. Despite being touted as a key addition in free agency, he consistently underperformed on the court, leading to dwindling playing time and eventually being relegated to the bench. This season, however, is a different story.
Smith has taken it upon himself to address his shortcomings from last year, putting in extra work during the offseason to improve his game. And it's paid off. With 18.7 minutes per game, Smith is seeing more court time than ever before, averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds while drawing charges at a rate tied for third on the team.
But statistics don't tell the whole story. Smith's impressive plus/minus numbers – he's led the Bulls in this category through 41 games, with only Collins and Coby White coming close to matching his mark of +61 – suggest that he's bringing an extra level of energy and intensity to the court.
His teammates are taking notice too. Nikola Vucevic, Smith's fellow big man, has praised his teammate for playing "power forward and center" in different situations and positions, protecting the paint and rebounding with physicality. The two have formed a strong chemistry on the court, making their two-big-man lineup a game-changer.
As the Bulls navigate a crowded playoff landscape, Smith's emergence as a reliable contributor has given them an added layer of depth and flexibility. Whether it's trading Vucevic or Collins' expiring contract, the front office will take notice of Smith's ability to hold his own alongside other top players.
For now, though, Smith is content with doing what it takes to stay on the court – rebounding, blocking shots, and impacting the game in any way possible. As he puts it, "It's about being ready at any point and time." And by all accounts, Stix is more than ready to take his place among the Bulls' top players.
he's like turned his game around completely after that crazy offseason work 
and now he's killing it on the court averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game 
it's not just about the stats though, he's bringing that extra energy and intensity to the court which is making him a game-changer for the bulls 
i love how nikola vucevic is praising stix for being able to play both power forward and center in different situations, they're like the ultimate big man duo 
. i mean, he went through a tough year last season where he was struggling to make an impact and stuff got cut from his playing time. but this year, he took it upon himself to work on his game and now he's seeing more court time than ever before! 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game is no joke 
. i love how he's drawing charges at a rate that's tied for third on the team - that shows he's bringing some serious energy to the court.
. nikola vucevic, his teammate, has been praising him for playing different positions and protecting the paint. i think their chemistry on the court is really special - it's like they're just clicking in every way possible 
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, especially after that rough season last year. I mean, who wouldn't want to work extra hard in the offseason to prove themselves? It's not like they were going to be stuck on the bench forever 
. And yeah, Smith's stats are looking pretty good right now, but let's be real, it's not just about individual numbers – it's about how he's impacting the team as a whole. Is this just a flash in the pan or is Stix here to stay? Only time will tell 
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. But what I love most about this story is Smith's attitude – he's just happy to be playing and making an impact whenever he can. That kind of positivity can go a long way in the locker room 
! I mean, you can tell he's put in so much extra work during the offseason, it's paying off big time. His rebounding and blocking numbers are insane for a guy who was struggling last year 
. What I'm really impressed by though is how Smith has taken it upon himself to improve his game. It's all about being proactive and hungry for improvement, you know? 
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His stats are insane, but it's not just about the numbers – he's actually making an impact on the court. And his chemistry with Vucevic is no joke, they're like two old friends working together seamlessly 
The Bulls' front office should definitely take notice of this guy, maybe it's time to give him more playing time... or even start him 
. I'm so hyped to see Smith continue to grow and develop his game. He's got the work ethic, the passion, and the talent to be a star in this league 
. The chemistry with Vucevic is undeniable, they're making the Bulls a more formidable team 
gotta keep an eye on this guy, he's gonna be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs 
. It's awesome to see him thriving, but at the same time, I'm not getting too ahead of myself - there's still a lot of basketball left to play 
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. The chemistry with Vucevic is real 
. He's just trying too hard to prove himself and it's causing him to make rookie mistakes on the court. The fact that he's averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds is cute, but it's not like anyone else in the league isn't getting those same numbers every night. And don't even get me started on his "chemistry" with Nikola Vucevic - they're just trying to figure out how to cover for each other's weaknesses 
. The Bulls are better off focusing on their actual stars, Collins and White, rather than relying on some inconsistent big man to carry the team.
and i'm no expert, but i think this two-big-man lineup is a total game-changer