Isaac Okoro probable for Bulls opener vs. Toronto after knee scare
Isaac Okoro is listed day-to-day with a knee issue, but he is probable for Wednesday's season opener against Toronto. The Bulls forward-guard played in 63 games for Chicago last season and averaged 9.3 points in 26.9 minutes. His preseason was light, with three appearances and two games he sat out entirely.
By the Bulls Nightly Desk · updated 19 h ago01The story of the nightThe knee and the openerThe Bulls listed Okoro as day-to-day on October 20 with a knee issue, labeled as a leg injury.
The Bulls listed Okoro as day-to-day on October 20 with a knee issue, labeled as a leg injury. The estimated return date is October 21, which lines up with Wednesday's season opener against Toronto. He is probable for that game. This is the second time this month he has shown up on the injury report. On October 13 he was day-to-day with an undisclosed issue. He then did not log any minutes in the October 14 game against Milwaukee or the October 16 game against Minnesota, both Chicago wins. The knee note followed on October 20. Nothing in the report suggests a long-term problem, and the probable tag points to him being available when the games start to count. Fans should watch the final status update before tip-off against the Raptors.
02Who Okoro is for ChicagoOkoro wears number 35 for the Bulls.
Okoro wears number 35 for the Bulls. He is a 6-6, 225-pound forward-guard, age 25, with six seasons of experience, and he played his college ball at Auburn. He was with Chicago last season, so this is not a new fit. His role last season was that of a low-usage wing. His usage rate was 13.7 percent, which means he was not asked to create much offense. His value shows up in the efficiency numbers instead. He shot 46.0 percent from the field, 33.0 percent from three and 79.5 percent from the line, with a true shooting mark of 57.4 percent. He turned the ball over just 0.7 times per game. Chicago's plus-minus with him on the floor was minus 5.3 last season.
03Last season by the numbersOkoro appeared in 63 games for the Bulls last season and averaged 26.9 minutes.
Okoro appeared in 63 games for the Bulls last season and averaged 26.9 minutes. His line was 9.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Those are role-player numbers, and the Bulls used him that way. The shooting splits are the part worth tracking this season. The 33.0 percent from three is the number that determines whether defenses have to guard him on the perimeter. The 79.5 percent from the line and the 57.4 true shooting percentage say he made the most of the shots he did take. The minus 5.3 plus-minus is the sore spot. That figure reflects how the Bulls fared in his minutes, and it was not good last season.
04How last season endedOkoro's final stretch of last season was a mixed bag for him and for the Bulls.
Okoro's final stretch of last season was a mixed bag for him and for the Bulls. On March 30 against San Antonio he scored 6 points with 3 rebounds in 25.3 minutes in a loss. On April 1 he put up 14 points against Indiana in 26.2 minutes, also a loss. The April 3 game against New York was rough, with 7 points in 26.4 minutes and a minus 40.0 plus-minus in a loss. He played a season-high stretch of 36.5 minutes on April 5 against Phoenix and had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in a loss. He closed with 11 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 16.3 minutes in an April 7 win over Washington, finishing at plus 15.0.
05A quiet preseasonThe preseason gave Okoro three games of action.
The preseason gave Okoro three games of action. On October 7 against Phoenix he had 2 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in 17.0 minutes in a Bulls win. On October 9 against Memphis he posted 5 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 23.4 minutes, and Chicago was plus 25.0 with him on the floor in a loss. On October 11 against Denver he scored 5 points with 1 rebound in 12.5 minutes in another loss. Then the undisclosed issue surfaced on October 13, and he sat out the wins over Milwaukee on October 14 and Minnesota on October 16. That leaves him with limited reps heading into the regular season, which makes his availability for Wednesday more notable.
06What to watch WednesdayIf Okoro plays against Toronto, the first thing to track is his minutes.
If Okoro plays against Toronto, the first thing to track is his minutes. Last season he averaged 26.9 per game, and after the knee note the Bulls may ease him in. The second thing is the three-point shot. At 33.0 percent last season, he was not a threat defenses had to chase. Any improvement there changes his role. The third is whether the plus-minus swings. Chicago was minus 5.3 per game in his minutes last season, and the preseason sample was all over the place, from plus 25.0 against Memphis to minus 5.0 against Phoenix. There are no trade rumors attached to him right now. He is a Bull, he is probable, and the opener is coming.
Okoro9.3 ppg
Santos9.2 ppg
CLE