Bulls rookies adjust to NBA

March 02, 2007|By FROM NEWS SERVICES: Chicago Tribune

Turns out, despite his lackluster statistics that lump him with many from his draft class, Tyrus Thomas isn't your typical NBA rookie.

"I don't play video games," Thomas said.

Instead, Thomas, who calls himself "an independent guy" and "a chill guy," gets his rest, watches movies and hangs with his uncle, who moved into the area as his nephew did from Louisiana but doesn't live with the Bulls' forward.

Thabo Sefolosha, meanwhile, has hit some museums and some malls, but he also favors movies or a quiet night at home with his French girlfriend, Bertille, with whom he lives and describes as "a great cook."

With Thomas and Sefolosha coming off their best combined effort of the season, why are the two first-round picks' off-night routines important?

This is the time of year when the NBA season can smack rookies in the face. It coincides with coach Scott Skiles continuing to hint at expanded roles for his two rookies if their production continues.

"There's no possible way you can describe this to anybody," Skiles said. "There's no way you can know when you're picking guys, how they're going to hold up. I think they've both held up well because they're in tough positions. They're on a winning team playing for something with guys in front of them. There are rookies playing minutes who are not on good teams, and those minutes don't have the same significance."

Ask Tyson Chandler, returning to the scene of his rookie season Friday night.

Before Tim Floyd left the team in 2001, the coach was questioned daily about the age-old debate of development versus entitlement minutes for Chandler and fellow rookie Eddy Curry.

"Travel has been the toughest because I don't do well changing climates, so I get sick easily," Thomas said. "I have to make sure I'm taking my vitamins and trying to keep my body up."

Sefolosha has played professionally in three European countries but also admitted travel has affected him.

"This has been more difficult than I expected," Sefolosha said. "But I'm adjusting."