The Invisible Qualities of Mike Dunleavy Mean a Lot to the Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Jimmy Butler. These are the Chicago Bulls names you hear over and over again. Maybe the water cooler buzzes on an off day about rookies Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott. You might even discuss super-sub Taj Gibson.

But how often does anyone talk, at all, about starting small forward Mike Dunleavy Jr.? The reliable, invaluable veteran wingman is somehow invisible to Chicago fans despite his strong record of service with the team since signing on in the summer of 2013. Dunleavy’s missed zero games under coach Tom Thibodeau, and he’s been a consistent floor-stretcher, decision-maker, and solid member of defensive units.

When I Googled Dunleavy, no news items initially came up. It took a little deeper digging to see what anybody had to say about him.

Through over 30 minutes of action per game last season in Chicago, MDJ averaged 1.3 turnovers with 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc, 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and just two fouls with 11.3 points per game. He’s on track for similar figures in 2014-15. Dunleavy’s current usage rate is low at 14.9 percent, but every time the Bulls turn to him, something decent seems to happen.

Another way of putting it? Dunleavy is Luol Deng Lite, a discount version of the two-time All-Star who was so essential to what the Bulls did for a decade. Dunleavy had been itching to be the consummate teammate—through 12 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks, he hadn’t seen a lot of winning.

Prior to coming to Chicago, he'd played for exactly one .500 or better team: the 2006-07 Warriors, from whom he was traded midseason. The Bulls' winning mold is why he came to Thibodeau’s team on a cheap contract, which pays him just $3.3 million this year. 

“That's one of the reasons I came here, just to be a part of a group winning a lot of games,” Dunleavy told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “I don't care about the other stuff. … I like to show up, do my job and go home.”

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

Whether the fans or media notice Dunleavy’s work or not, his coach certainly does.

"He plays for the team," Thibodeau told Johnson. "And he's just a basketball player. Like sometimes, you just need to move the ball from side to side. He gets that done. It's not reflected in an assist, but he gets you movement. And he moves extremely well without the ball.”

And while he doesn’t rack up steals, blocks or highlight footage, Dunleavy’s defense is terrific. As Blog a Bull’s Kevin Ferrigan notes, he “has incredibly long arms and at 6'9" he's tall for a wing. Just getting a shot over him is more difficult task than it is against other wings. His wingspan also helps him in slowing dribble penetration, which he needs as his lateral quickness isn't elite.”

"

Mike Dunleavy has been great this year.

— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) November 21, 2014"

Perhaps because Dunleavy failed to meet the expectations of his high draft spot early on—No. 3 overall via the Warriors in 2002—he faded away from the public’s imagination. And perhaps because perceptions of nepotism tainted him for NBA fans (Dunleavy’s father is a former NBA coach), audiences haven’t been eager to give him props. But his work with the Bulls speaks for itself and has been admirable. He's worth our recognition.

If Dunleavy ever gets injured and misses time for the Bulls—an experience that seems like a rite of passage for his squad these days—these qualities may finally be noticed when they’re absent. But since his play is always there, we seem to take it for granted as he blends seamlessly into the experience of enjoying winning Bulls basketball.

Until then, hardcore fans will continue to enjoy the Mike Dunleavy party in a small, quiet corner.

Advanced statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference, Salary info via Sham Sports.