Guard Rob Dillingham wants to use rest of season to show Bulls he has staying power

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Guard Rob Dillingham has played in 22 consecutive games since joining the Bulls in a trade with the Timberwolves.

He might not always get the amount of minutes he wants, but he is grateful for them anyway.

So he should have a level of confidence about his place in the Bulls’ rotation moving forward, not only for the rest of this season but into next season, right?

Don’t try selling Dillingham on that.

‘‘It’s a good feeling that I’m getting the opportunity, but I don’t feel comfortable at all,’’ Dillingham said. ‘‘I don’t feel like I’ve proven anything, so my goal is just to help us win, help us get better, be the best I can be.’’

That’s a good attitude to have, but it’s a also a reminder of the scars he still carries with him from his time with the Timberwolves.

Dillingham, who was selected No. 8 overall in the 2024 draft, never seemed to be the right fit for what the Timberwolves wanted out of him.

He has spoken openly about how his minutes dried up and how his confidence soon followed, but he also has been good about taking responsibility for why things didn’t work out with the Timberwolves.

The remaining eight games this season — and especially this summer — will be about Dillingham making sure that the Bulls understand he is willing and able to fix his deficiencies and that they can count on him as a core piece.

‘‘I’m just trying to win games, get better, pay attention to the details, do the little things,’’ Dillingham said. ‘‘Do the stuff that’s going to allow me to play. That’s what I’m focused on. The summer is going to be a big summer, but for now I’m focused on winning.’’

Easy rider

The players in the Bulls’ locker room are well aware about who is under contract beyond the rest of this season and who isn’t.

Because he is the Bulls’ main facilitator and has his hands on the ball on most of their possessions, guard Josh Giddey was asked whether he tries to make sure the core players are getting more touches.

‘‘I don’t really look at it that way because I don’t know who is going to be here for sure,’’ Giddey said. ‘‘Obviously, there are a lot of free agents, and we’re probably not going to have the exact same team that we have now. My job is to make everyone’s life easy, whoever is on the court on any given night . . . and it’s been different. We’ve had guys in and out of the lineup with injuries and things like that, but I don’t overthink it. Whoever is out there on the floor, I’m trying to make their life easy.’’

M.A.S.H. unit

Maybe coach Billy Donovan is being more cognizant of players dealing with injuries now that the Bulls have been eliminated from any type of postseason consideration.

Forward Guerschon Yabusele played Friday against the Thunder but has been hampered by a sore left ankle for a while and was in street clothes against the Grizzlies.

He joined fellow big men Jalen Smith (right calf) and Nick Richards (right elbow) on the bench. Smith and Richards missed the game against the Thunder.