Done with the Suns, Ulis appreciates being home with Chicago Bulls
Tyler Ulis practiced with the Chicago Bulls for the first time Tuesday.
The South Suburban native was glad to be back home, but he couldn't ignore the past two years spent in Phoenix, Arizona, and Oakland, California.
"It's a little chilly," he said after practice at the Advocate Center. "I've been on the West Coast for a while, but it's great to be here. Family and friends are around. That's always good to be comfortable."
Ulis' recent journey is a little puzzling. He started 58 games for the Suns during the past two seasons, a nice showing for a second-round draft pick.
But Phoenix released him in the spring and traded veteran Brandon Knight to Houston this summer. The Suns probably will open the season with former G-Leaguer Shaquille Harrison starting at point guard.
Ulis went to training camp with Golden State but was released. The Bulls claimed him off waivers and converted him to a two-way contract, which means he will split time between the NBA team and the Windy City Bulls.
"I guess it was alarming (to be released by the Suns), but my mom always taught me never expect anything," Ulis said. "When you're on a losing team like that anything can happen. I feel like I showed I could play at this level, but they went a different way and I'm here now."
Ulis averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 assists last season in Phoenix. The 5-foot-10 point guard played in high school at Marian Catholic in Chicago Heights, then spent two years at Kentucky.
The two-way players, Ulis and shooting guard Rawle Alkins, likely will stay with the Bulls until the G-League season begins in a few weeks.
"Tyler had a real good practice," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I think he changes the pace when he's out there on the floor. He picks up full-court; he gets up underneath you. He can make a shot. He's got good vision and can make a play with the ball in his hand.
"So I was very impressed with his first workout."
Ulis meets champs:
Between leaving Phoenix and arriving in Chicago, Tyler Ulis spent the preseason with the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. It probably was an interesting experience for someone who spent two seasons on a lottery team.
"Very valuable," Ulis said. "They value good basketball. You get to see those guys up close and center because they're champs. You see how they approach the game, how they approach going into film and how they are on the court. You see the differences between a veteran team and a young team."
Ulis admitted he left Phoenix with some regrets.
"I feel like if I would have shot the ball better I would be in a better position," he said. "So you always get the opportunity to show your skill set, and all my life I've been able to do that and I don't feel like looking back now.
"Being a smaller guard growing up in a big man's sport, you get looked over, so I'm the underdog. And I feel like this team is an underdog, so we should all be excited to get the season started and prove people wrong."
Bulls add jersey sponsor:
The Bulls announced Tuesday a five-year agreement with Zenni Optical to be the team's first jersey sponsor. Bulls jerseys will now have Zenni stitched on the upper left corner.
Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Robin Lopez were in attendance for the announcement, each wearing glasses provided by the sponsor.