Life, we often hear, can be so unfair, like basketball, which is supposed to be a meritocracy. But, of course, it isn’t. Because then Whitney Young and DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty would have an NBA contract instead of perhaps facing another season with the Windy City Bulls in the G League, the place where the players are considered generally just good enough to dream.
Freeman-Liberty, like just about everyone playing in the NBA Summer League where the Bulls Saturday lost 87-80 to the Memphis Grizzlies, has that NBA dream. And in again being the best player on the floor for the Bulls Saturday with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists and four of six threes, Freeman-Liberty has the NBA game.
Just not the appropriate hoops pedigree, undrafted Blue Demon instead of being from a blue blood, lacking a guaranteed contract and, if potentially essential, also dispensable. So while the spotlight and attention of Bulls watchers this month falls on former first round draft pick Dalen Terry and 2023 second round pick Julian Phillips, the latter who made his Summer League debut Saturday, it is the determined Freeman-Liberty with the free flowing hair and game who through the 1-1 start just goes about his business with an attitude as upbeat as his game.
“I’ve got to give thanks to the team and the coach for putting me in position to just be out there,” Freeman-Liberty said Saturday. “I know it was a loss, but I thought it was a good effort; we competed to the end.
“I really don’t like to talk about (not being drafted), but it’s another chip,” the succinct in speech if not game Freeman-Liberty said. “All my life I’ve been fighting to get here and I feel I’m still not (there). So I’ve still got that chip on my shoulder, motivated each and every day to come in and compete. I feel like always being motivated. I’m a God person, so I talk to God each and every day, every chance I get. I sit there and pray for the best. I’m always grateful being in the position that I am in right now.”
It was a bit more like it Saturday for Terry with 17 points and a trio of three-pointers. Though in nine attempts as Terry added a five for 21 Saturday to his opening four of 14. Still a great motor, if still too often misfiring. Terry played more composed in Game 2, primarily off the ball this time and with more driving penetration if too many forced shots.
Rookie second round draft selection Phillips, the Bulls’ other summer priority in Las Vegas, came off the bench after sitting out the opener Friday due to contract uncertainty. And then got an eyes-wide-open-shocked look at the NBA, obviously finding the players much bigger, faster and better than he apparently anticipated in getting just one late basket in 24 minutes and a team-low minus-13 plus/minus.
“For myself, my performance isn’t what I wanted it to be,” Phillips conceded. “Kind of trying to find out how the game was going to go, so glad I got the game under me so I can be better the next outing. It’s my first game on this level and obviously every level is different. Trying to see what the game is, but definitely be better the next outing. The pace is faster, guys are bigger and stronger, obviously. It is a different game than college basketball, so you have to play more to get accustomed.”
It’s a Summer League; not a summer vacation.
It was another tough break for second-year pro Justin Lewis, who had a nice effort in the opening win in his first game back from ACL surgery. He started again Saturday and played about six minutes before suffering a sprained ankle. His status for the remainder of Summer League is unknown. Undrafted Adama Sanogo played a more forceful game and stayed away from perimeter jump shots, fighting his way to 12 rebounds. Marksman Nate Darling added 10 points, but was just one of six on threes.
It was another spotty offensive game with both teams shooting 40% overall and 33% on threes.
The game proved a tug of war mostly throughout until with about three minutes left and the score tied at 77 after Phillips' only basket of the game on a 19-footer, Memphis scored 10 straight points on a three and some slow Bulls responses for fouls before a Freeman-Liberty three closed the scoring.
“I really applaud our effort,” said Summer League Bulls coach John Bryant. "It’s hard to play a back-to-back, but no excuses.”
Bryant said the Bulls were short on the effort plays they prioritize, five deflections per quarter (only 10 for the game) and a shot contest rate of 75% (64% for the game).
“We just couldn’t give that second effort, give another effort that was required,” said Bryant.
The Bulls next game is Tuesday against Sacramento at 9 p.m. central time.
“I was excited Julian got in there and got a taste of it,” said Bryant. “It’s Summer League and you think everything is going to go up: ‘I’m going to score 20, have seven rebounds, three steals, we’ll win every game.’ But then real life happens. He’s probably a little disappointed he had only two points. But I told him this is your first game in the NBA; you have a lot more. What are you going to do to improve the next game? It’s up to him to bounce back; he’s a rookie.
“Dalen played with a little bit more control,” noted Bryant. “Shots didn’t go in. He did try to lead, played the most minutes again and played hard. I’m proud of Dalen. He has a lot of weight on his shoulders. Being a first round pick isn’t easy. I think he’s carrying it the best he can. I thought he improved today.”
And then there was the guy who’s been the best for the two games, the 6-foot-4 Freeman-Liberty. He is leading the team in scoring and second in rebounds and assists while shooting 54% overall and 50% on threes.
So the Bulls have found their point guard? Not quite yet.
Freeman-Liberty isn’t the dominant athlete, and something of a combo guard. So a bit small for shooting guard as Carlik Jones mostly ran the offense for Windy City. But Freeman-Liberty has shown, if briefly with the Summer League team, he can direct offense with a nice mid-range shot game off pick-and-roll. Though he’s also gotten accustomed to mostly rolling with the punches.
“It is a harder road for guys like that to get to the NBA,” Bryant agreed. “Nothing about life is fair. We’ve all been dealt our fair share of obstacles. It happens to the NBA player who is undrafted.”
Because teams invest in players they draft. So sometimes they keep them around longer either because they owe them money or they don’t want to admit they made a draft mistake. Then a player bounces around awhile and like Freeman-Liberty, who’ll be 24 in October, teams decide you’ve reached your ceiling. Then you go to the G League, which some inaccurately see as a demotion rather than an opportunity. Though not Freeman-Liberty.
“The G League has helped me a lot,” he was saying after Saturday’s loss. “It’s a competitive league; it’s going to develop you a lot. Everybody is trying to get somewhere (in the G League). When everyone is trying to get somewhere, it’s like each and every day you have guys giving it their all to get to the next level.”
And there are a lot of success stories, like the Bulls Alex Caruso.
Freeman-Liberty, the nephew of celebrated former University of Illinois star Marcus Liberty, maintains that liberated spirit.
He started at Seton Academy in South Holland and then when it closed moved to Whitney Young on the West side, where he played for a state title winner and in the title game in consecutive seasons. But slight of frame, he ended up going to Valparaiso, where he was an all-defense player. After two years, he transferred to DePaul. And as a senior averaged 21.7 points and shot 37% on threes. But older, smaller, in between positions, he didn’t make it into the 2022 NBA draft.
He then averaged 17.4 points per game for Windy City shooting almost 40% on threes, and with the Bulls this summer showing he can run an offense. Sort of like Carlik Jones showed last Summer League for the Bulls and with an MVP G League season earned a make good contract with the Bulls.
So Freeman-Liberty continues full speed ahead determined not to be torpedoed by the doubts or doubters.
“Be that guy out there always talking and communicating, making sure everyone is in the right place and organized,” said Freeman-Liberty about his role this summer and beyond. “It’s a lot (to improve upon). I just feel like me getting stronger and me being more vocal out there, me being one of those guys always on the bench communicating and talking. I’m one of those guys who is versatile. I can play defense and be a point guard to get everyone involved and be a scorer if the coach needs me to.
“I’m still very young,” Freeman-Liberty points out. “I know I’ve got a chance. I’ve got time to consider and think. Every opportunity is a good opportunity. That’s what I live by. Overseas or the G League, it’s an opportunity to wake up every day and play basketball, the game you love.”
And always keep dreams alive.
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