Ivey takes no offense at sitting out Bulls loss

The Bulls were back to being their old selves Thursday. In the first game after the all-star break, they were competitive against Toronto, but extended their losing streak to seven in a row.

Josh Giddey and Tre Jones returned from hamstring injuries, which meant they played alongside the team's seven new players for the first time. Giddey looked rusty, while Jones played well.

But the return of Giddey and Jones created a logjam of guards. With coach Billy Donovan away from the team, lead assistant Wes Unseld Jr. started Giddey, Anfernee Simons and Isaac Okoro. Both Giddey and Jones played 21-22 minutes in their return.

Collin Sexton played 15 minutes off the bench, Rob Dillingham got 10 minutes and Jaden Ivey didn't play at all. After the game, Unseld called it, “Strictly a basketball decision.” He added that it's tough to play six guards and wanted to get Giddey and Jones back on the floor.

Giddey and Jones both signed new contracts before the season. Newcomers Simons, Sexton, Ivey, Nick Richards and Guerschon Yabusele will be free agents this summer.

Later in the night, once most of the other Bulls had left the locker room, Ivey took no offense at staying on the bench, but admitted he wasn't necessarily expecting it.

“I talked with coach Wes and he was just saying, ‘I'm trying to figure out the minutes,' and just trying to figure out how it was going to work today,” Ivey said. “Whatever the team needs of me.

“I think tonight was my first DNP of my career. I don't think it changes my character. Win, lose or draw, I'm here to do my job, glorify God. I liken it to coach is looking for players to help win. Jesus is looking for those who worship him, his spirit and the truth. I don't really think it affects me that much.”

As Ivey sat at his locker, offering a mix of basketball talk and religion, he admitted to experiencing soreness in his right knee. The former No. 5 overall pick from Purdue was averaging 17.6 points for Detroit last season when he suffered a broken left leg that ended his season.

Last fall, Ivey had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Traded to the Bulls on Feb. 3 in a deal that included Kevin Huerter, Ivey is clearly still slowed by the leg injuries. He's not showing the same speed or athleticism that stood out during his college days.

“Yeah, I mean, I've been dealing with soreness in my knee,” Ivey said. “I'm sure people can call it out that I'm not the same player as I used to be. That's why I'm not the J.I. I used to be.”

He went on to say, “The old J.I. is dead,” but seemed to be referencing a religious rebirth rather than basketball.

“I'm alive in Christ, no matter what the basketball setting is,” he said. “I'm born again.”

Donovan is expected to return for Saturday's game against Detroit. The Bulls are just getting started on a season-high seven-game homestand before the Big Ten Tournament takes over the United Center.