Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 20, 2017 53 IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN P oint guard was somewhat of a revolving door for the Chicago Bulls last season after they traded former star Derrick Rose during the summer. Part of that equation included a player involved in the deal that shipped Rose to the New York Knicks — Jerian Grant. The former Irish guard spent the first season of his NBA career with the Knicks after getting selected with the 19th pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. After arriving in Chicago, Grant was one of several players who started at point guard (28 games) during the 2016-17 season, but the Bulls still seemed unable to find their floor general of the future. However, that didn't deter Grant. Neither did the team's acquisition of point guard Kris Dunn, the No. 5 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, from the Minnesota Timberwolves. An injury to Dunn right before the 2017-18 campaign provided Grant a chance to be the team's starter while Dunn recovered, and Grant has taken advantage. Through the team's first nine games, he averaged 28.3 min- utes, 8.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.1 re- bounds while starting in each contest. All those numbers eclipse his career averages coming into the year of 16.5 minutes 5.8 points, 2.1 assists and 1.9 rebounds in 139 games (34 starts). With a greater involvement in run- ning the offense, Grant has taken his game to a higher level. "This year I have the ball in my hands a lot more and that's given me confidence about making plays," Grant said told The Chicago Daily Her- ald. "It's not a huge adjustment, it's just something I haven't done in this league yet. "I did it obviously all the way through high school, college, but now I get a chance to do it in this league. I've been doing it my whole life and I'm prepared for it." While his overall numbers are solid, Grant isn't shooting at a great clip. In those nine games, he shot only 31.9 percent (23 of 72) from the field and 16.0 percent (4 of 25) behind the three-point line. "I was panicking early because I wasn't making shots," Grant told The Chicago Tribune. "Coaches stressed to me it's not about making shots. … I've just got to keep being aggressive. "I'm still trying to figure [that bal- ance] out. We have some great shoot- ers. I try to get the ball to them. As a point guard, you've still got to be aggressive. You're going up against guys who are going to attack you, so you've got to attack them on defense. My shot will come." Grant is trying to find chances to help his teammates find their oppor- tunities while he searches for his own. "Coach has been telling me we have a lot of guys who shoot a lot of jump shots, and when those aren't falling you have to have someone who gets into the paint and gets guys easier looks," Grant told Bulls.com. The good news for Grant is he has kept the starting job despite Dunn returning from injury. But it doesn't matter to him who the Bulls add to the point guard position. He's going to continue trying to earn the chance to be the long-term starter. "It fuels me," Grant said. "They keep bringing guys in. They're going to continue to do what they do, but I'm getting my opportunity on the court and we've got to go out here and get some wins and I can prove I can be that guy." According to spotrac.com, Grant's base salary for the season is just more than $1.7 million. The Bulls picked up his fourth-year option for 2018-19, which will pay him almost $2.64 million. NBA PLAYER UPDATES Through Nov. 9 • Pat Connaughton (Played at Notre Dame from 2011‑15), G, Portland Trail Blazers: Has played in 10 games for the 6-5 Trail Blazers … Averaging 7.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 21.4 minutes of action per night … Shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. • Jerian Grant (2011‑15), G, Chicago Bulls: Has started all nine games for the 2-7 Bulls … Averag- ing 8.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per contest … Shooting just 31.9 percent from the field and 16.0 percent from beyond the three-point arc. • Demetrius Jackson (2013‑16), G, Houston Rockets: Has come off the bench in eight games for the 9-3 Rockets … Averaging 6.6 minutes, 1.0 point, 1.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per contest. ✦ Jerian Grant Keeps Grip On Bulls' Starting Point Guard Job Grant averaged 8.8 points, 6.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds while starting Chicago's first nine games this season. PHOTO COURTESY CHICAGO BULLS/BILL SMITH NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: Week Nine Highlights • Matthias Farley (Played at Notre Dame 2011‑15), DB, Indianapolis Colts: Registered a team-high eight tackles and defended one pass in a 20-14 win at Houston … Has compiled 55 tackles, five passes defended and one interception in nine starts for the 3-6 Colts.… Tied for 27th in NFL in tackles. • Theo Riddick (2009‑12), RB, Detroit Lions: Rushed for 11 yards on five carries and caught four passes for 62 yards in a 30-17 win at Green Bay … Has logged 27 carries for 71 yards plus 29 receptions for 266 yards and one touchdown for the 4-4 Lions. • Golden Tate (2007‑09), WR, Detroit Lions: Caught seven passes for 113 yards in the 30-17 victory over the Packers … Has hauled in 50 catches for 562 yards and two scores in eight starts for 4-4 Detroit … Tied for sixth in the NFL in receptions.