Bulls' 'dad' offers lessons learned in long career

Lindsey Hunter took lessons in how to be a worthwhile NBA mentor from Bill Laimbeer, of all people.

The Bulls veteran entered the league with the Detroit Pistons in 1993, when a few remnants of the Bad Boy championship era still remained. Three, to be specific: Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars.

Laimbeer retired early that season, and Thomas' career ended after 58 games with a torn Achilles' tendon, while Dumars led a team that eventually finished 22-60. That poor record set the stage for the Pistons drafting Grant Hill.

"Laimbeer was actually a great guy," Hunter said. "People don't really know that. I know you all (Bulls fans) don't like him. When (fellow rookie) Allan (Houston) and I first got there, we thought it was like, 'Just stay out of his way.'

"But he went out of his way to talk to us and it was cool. Other than kicking the basketballs into the stands and making us go get them."

There's no evidence that Hunter brought that particular page from the Laimbeer playbook to the Bulls. But Hunter is working hard to be a positive influence on rookie Derrick Rose and the other young Bulls. Rose refers to Hunter, 38, as the "Team Dad."

"Do I look like the dad of the team?" Hunter asked. "As long as I don't look that part, I'll be that part."

Bulls management clearly appreciates the role Hunter is playing. Saturday is when all NBA contracts become guaranteed for the full season, which meant players needed to be released by Wednesday in order to clear waivers in time.

Hunter and forward Michael Ruffin have the team's only contracts that are not fully guaranteed already. But the Bulls plan to keep both around.

"I don't really worry about that stuff," Hunter said following Wednesday's practice. "I just do what I do. I enjoy every day. I love playing, I love working out. I just have fun. As long as I can do that, I'm OK."

Ruffin is still suffering from a sore Achilles, so the Bulls would have to pay him even if he were released. He still can either come back and play or be included in a trade before the Feb. 19 deadline.

Rose should be glad to know his "dad" isn't going anywhere.

"He knows so much about the game, you could say he's another coach coming off the bench," Rose said. "He tells me, tells everybody, stuff that you're doing wrong. But he also tells you the things he's doing right. He's just a positive energy that's going around the team."

From that rookie year with the Pistons, Hunter stayed in the NBA for 16 seasons. He won championships with the 2002 Lakers and 2004 Pistons. He still remembers what it was like to be a young player in need of guidance.

"Joe (Dumars) was really reserved, really quiet," Hunter said. "Joe was kind of the same way he is now. Isiah was more of the talker, but we learned a lot from watching those guys' professionalism and their preparation."

Hunter gives Rose advice to be used both on and off the court. Over the course of his career, Hunter evolved from a point guard to a 3-point shooting specialist to a savvy defender. So many of his lessons involve defense.

"He's a great kid with a great attitude," Hunter said of Rose. "I've always said he reminded me a lot of (Detroit second-year guard) Rodney (Stuckey). He listens and he tries to do the things that are going to help him become great in this league."

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