City Represents at Week 1 of Dreamville/Wilson Basketball Chi-League
Current, former Bulls and Chicago natives lead the way as returning Pro-Am event steps up its competition
Chicago showed out over the weekend as old school and new school ballers came together to display their talents to the upmost for the first day of the Dreamville X Wilson Basketball Chi-League Pro-Am, hosted this year at the University of Illinois-Chicago's Credit Union 1 Arena.
The pull of being ranked as, and playing amongst, Chicago’s finest helped get the Chi-League off to an explosive start. Players with ties to the city, such as Los Angeles Lakers’ star and Simeon High School graduate Talen Horton-Tucker and former Bulls Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker — Southside native and another Simeon alum — were in the building putting on a show for fans.
Sources at the tournament have expressed to WARR Media that the big-time drop-ins are only beginning as the tournament continues to play out over the next two weekends.
Other current Bulls including Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Ayo Dosunmu are all expected to participate in the Chi-League, per tournament organizers. Former NBA veteran and Chicago-area native Shawn Marion is also rumored to show up during the upcoming weeks.
One active Bull who’s already started work in Chi-League has been new fan favorite Javonte Green, who has previously told WARR Media that he was expecting to stay busy this Summer.
Green has stated his intent to work on his offensive game in his free time to help decrease some of the load off of his teammates. Along with doing that, Green is also taking time to give back to the community by participating in the Chi-League.
“It means a lot to play in front of the city,” Green said. “I love playing in front of Chicago Bulls fans, but to come out here and play for the Chi-League, have some fun and put on a show for everybody that’s what I’m about. I’m about the community.”
Another former Bull and Chicago native made a special appearance during the Pro-Am’s first week and exhibited his special style of sharpshooting.
Chicago legend Janerro Pargo showed up in the second-half of the game between teams coached by Antoine Walker and E’Twaun Moore and scored 13 points. Though his team lost, participating in the league and playing for Walker, a player he idolized growing up, mattered very much.
“I tell people all the time that when I was young I was able to go to the gym and see Antoine Walker,” Pargo said. “Being able to see him, knowing he is from where I’m from and he’s playing in the NBA, it made it that much more realistic for me. Hopefully somebody in the crowd right now that wants to be in the NBA that sees me knows that they can do it.”
Chi-League commissioner Jobba Maxey said having Janerro Pargo participate in the Pro-Am is “super big.”
“To see Pargo come back and show love to the younger guys that play. Pargo understands Chicago culture. He’s about this culture. Him coming back and leading by example is huge, and huge for Chicago.”
After playing 15 years in the league, the 42-year-old Pargo has transitioned to a coaching role, serving as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers. Although he is coaching a division rival, Pargo is a prime example of “you can take the kid out of Chicago but can’t take Chicago out of the kid.”
“I’m a Chicago kid, I played five years for the Bulls. I’m a Bulls fan, and that is never going to change,” Pargo said.
Though there’s some conflict for Pargo given his love for the Bulls and his duty in facing them four times a year for supremacy in the Eastern Conference’s Central Divsion, Pargo still expects the Bulls to build on last season’s success.
“I’m happy with what they were able to do this past season,” Pargo said. “I’m looking for them to do more. Zach LaVine is tough. [DeMar] DeRozan is tough. They got shooters. They defend really well. And it is Chicago so it is tough to come into the building and get wins. I relish every opportunity to play against the Bulls.”
With Green already in action at UIC and the expected Bulls to come in upcoming weeks, there’ll be plenty of chances for Pargo to add to his scouting report.
The Chi-League continues with preliminary games on Saturday, August 20 and championship games taking place on Saturday, August 27.
Joshua M. Hicks is a senior writer for WARR Media and host of the “In The Scope” Podcast