Bulls To Get Major Boost To Lineup With Patrick Williams’ Return

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has been sidelined since Oct. 28 after suffering a wrist injury. He is set to make his return to the lineup during the NBA Monday slate when they take on the Toronto Raptors.

The Bulls have struggled to achieve success since the All-Star break. With Williams’ return, Chicago will be receiving a needed boost with his defensive versatility and athleticism. His presence will help tie the unit together alongside Nikola Vucevic.

“He makes our team better,” Donovan told reporters. “There’ll probably be some growing pains of him finding a rhythm. With Patrick, the biggest thing is going to be how he fits into a rotation and what a realistic number of minutes look like for him.”

After a five-month absence, Patrick Williams is excited to get back into action. It could take time for him to gain a rhythm, but there is just enough time to do so ahead of the playoffs.

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“He’s anxious to get back,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Physically, he feels good. He knows the timing part is going to take a little bit of time. But I think just how he feels and where he’s at mentally, he wants to come back and play.”

During his rookie campaign, Patrick Williams appeared in 71 games and provided the Chicago Bulls with averages of 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He was able to appear in just five games this season before he went down with his injury.

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth is an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network and Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).

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