Bryson Graham’s words on Wednesday were profound.
Then again, they often are in prepared introductory press conferences.
Bulls fans, however, are at the point where they deserve more than the decades-long distraction of the Michael Jordan statue in the United Center atrium representing their only recent positive history. They deserve more than words and promises from new hires.
Even one like Graham who has gone from interning with the New Orleans Pelicans back in 2010 in which his first day on the job involved unloading boxes at the practice facility, to now 16 years later having his boxes brought up into the Bulls’ swanky executive vice president of basketball operations office on the second floor of the Advocate Center.
Quite the impressive climb with stops at almost every rung on an NBA organization’s ladder.
But what’s needed now from this organization is someone that understands what the Bulls logo has meant to the city and what it means worldwide. More importantly, how lost it has become.
“If you played basketball in the (1990s), 85%, 90% of the kids, I don’t care where you grew up, I grew up in San Antonio — yeah, I got some love for the Spurs, I ain’t gonna lie, but it did not supplant what the Bulls meant to me,” Graham said. “When I think about it and I think about the greatness that’s in this building and what’s in these rafters, the championships that have been won here, it’s amazing. It impacted my life more than I thought I knew because I was always chasing what this organization represented.
“You see MJ, and obviously I wanted to be him just like everybody wanted, right. But I wanted that and it carried over in other aspects of my life, so like my work ethic, my determination, my grit, I’m watching the Bulls and what they displayed and I’m like, ‘That’s what I want.’ “
It’s now what he has.
Just one of the strengths that caught the eye of team president Michael Reinsdorf when it came down to making a final decision on who would replace fired exec Arturas Karnisovas.
Graham definitely didn’t short-cut his way to Chicago as was pointed out when he was introduced by Reinsdorf. An introduction that began with an apology.
“First I’ll start with our fans,” Reinsdorf said. “I want to, actually I need to, say I’m sorry because the results obviously haven’t been there. It’s not something I’m proud of and it’s something I want to get right. Ultimately it flows up to me and I take responsibility. I do feel that (Wednesday) is a step in the right direction and it’s an important step.
“At the end of the day, Bryson just clearly stood out. So why Bryson? I think it starts with he’s not about shortcuts.”
Good thing because he won’t be inheriting a quick fix. Graham knows that all too well making it very clear that they can’t miss on this upcoming 2026 draft class — especially since the Bulls have two picks in the top 15 of a talented group — they need to build out the front office to match the modern-day front offices around the league, and he also needs to find the right coach.
A bunch of pieces that turn into one collective force moving forward.
“I want a collaborative and very communicative organization,” Graham said. “It doesn’t matter about the position. Everyone in this room can have something that can add to making the right decision, so I want to take in what everyone says, and I want to process that.”
What he’s already processed? This organization needs to do whatever it takes to get back to hanging banners. That starts with the talent on the floor.
“Most rebuild situations is when you don’t have star-caliber players,” Graham said. “Right now, not to say we don’t have anyone on this roster that can get there, but until we continue to draft well, add to this mix, and add overall talent and team identity, yeah, we’re in a rebuilding phase.”
