Breakout Star John Salmons Leads the Chicago Bulls’ Playoff Charge
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It’s
safe to say that since being traded to the Bulls from the Sacramento
Kings in mid-February, John Salmons has been playing the best
basketball of his career. The 6-foot-6 small forward from Philadelphia
has scored 30 points in two of his last three games, including a
38-point effort in a victory over the defending champs, the Boston
Celtics. Second on the team in scoring, Salmon’s offensive moves have
been key to the Bulls playoff run and their current spot as the eighth
seed. Recently rolling out caught up with the inside-out
virtuoso to discuss adjusting to life in his new town, his recent
hardwood success and the lessons he learned off the court in college.
–gavin philip godfrey
Since being traded to Chicago from Sacramento, what has been the biggest lifestyle adjustment you’ve had to make?
Just trying to get my family adjusted — trying to get them moved out here [and] get myself adjusted and in a good situation.
What do you do for fun in Chicago?
I don’t do much, man. I’m more of a family man, [I] like to lay back,
go to movies, [and] go get something to eat — chill with my family.
Who has been your closest friend on the team since coming to Chicago?
Everybody’s cool with each other — it’s like a family atmosphere. I
went out to eat with Lindsey [Hunter] and AG [Aaron Gray] a couple of
times, so everybody’s pretty cool.
Your breakout season is making it harder for you to be anonymous. How are you handling the sudden attention to your game?
It’s cool. I’m just taking it [in] stride. I know what it is. I’m just
trying to come in, just play basketball, not worry about much and just
focus on God.
March
Madness is here and you played for the University of Miami. What did
you gain from your college experience that players who came to the
league straight out of high school missed out on?
It
helped me mature. [College] helped find me out who I am as a person
[and] as a man. That was the biggest adjustment for me — just more off
the court, life stuff than on the court.
What was your most memorable college moment?
I mean I had a lot of fun times in college. I think meeting my wife — that was the best moment of college.
