Chicago Bulls forward Adama Sanogo in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
David Zalubowski/Associated PressFormer UConn men’s basketball star Adama Sanogo scored his first career NBA points in the Chicago Bulls’ 110-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night.
Chicago guard Dalen Terry drove to the lane and threw a rainbow-style pass to Sanogo on the opposite block. Sanogo caught the pass, despite Sixers’ guard Jaden Springer’s defensive efforts, and went up with confidence as he made shot with 5:19 left in the game.
Adama finished the night with eight points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and had six rebounds in just nine minutes of play.
The 6-foot-7 forward was a driving force for UConn winning the 2023 National Championship. He was named the NCAA Final Four’s MOP for his powerful performance. Sanogo went undrafted but was picked up by the Chicago Bulls on a two-way contract. There was a UConn connection before Sanogo arrived in Chicago as Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan has a good relationship with Husky head coach Dan Hurley.
After impressing the franchise with his outstanding games in the summer league then proving his abilities once again in the preseason, Sanogo made Chicago’s official roster on Oct. 26 before he was sent to the G League.
Sanogo averaged 17.7 points and 10.8 rebounds in 16 games with the G League’s Windy City Bulls. He was added to the NBA Bulls last week and played one minute in a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 28.
