GARDNER EMERGING FROM FIELD

As some of you might know, I am a pretty die hard Chicago Bulls fan, one that grew up watching and emulating Jordan and Pippen during the dynasty years. Yes, I am also one of those fans that will watch and go to as many games as possible, while emailing and annoying Sam Smith at Chicagosports.com on a weekly basis, just to hear his opinion on how the Bulls are doing during the year. I am that guy.

Anyways, this summer I was eager to check on our Summer League box scores to see how Tabo and Tyrus were progressing. To me, if they can develop their games and be consistent, the Bulls will have a very dangerous/deep team, which will contend for the Eastern Conference Championship. Now, while both of them looked really good this summer, one kid who stuck out to me when checking box scores, was a kid named Thomas Gardner.

Gardner led the Bulls in scoring at 17 ppg at the Rocky Mountain Revue, while putting up some really big numbers throughout that League. Now I know summer league is not a good indicator of how good a player is going to be in the League, but there was just something about this kid that intrigued me because of his consistency there. Since I did not know much about him, I tried to ask some of my buddies, who are pretty big fans, to see if they had heard of Gardner, but to no avail. So I used the wonders of the Internet to look up some info on this kid, and I was pretty impressed. He had a nice 3 year career at Mizzou, and while he went undrafted, he was invited to play at Spurs camp last year, where he did well. Although Gardner did not make the Spurs, he went on to play Euro Ball at a good league in Belgium as well. (Click below to read more, and to see his crazy dunks!)

Now this year, Gardner is back in America to achieve his dream of playing in the League. The Bulls invited him to Summer League, and ever since then, he is making the most of the opportunity he was given. Gardner is a pretty athletic 2 guard, who is 6'5 and can fill up the stat sheet, which seems exactly like what the Bulls need off the bench this upcoming season to give Gordon and Hinrich breathers.

Gardner is one of a few players fighting for his life to just get on the Bulls regular season, 15 man roster which might even mean taking a non guaranteed contract or even just taking a spot on the practice squad, but he doesn't seem to mind. "This is like being a freshman in college again," Gardner said. "You're not the guy. I may not even play. But I can be a great practice guy and push other people. I feel I'm a quick learner." It seems like his quick learning abilities coupled with his freakish athleticism has put Gardner in favor with his fellow teammates and Coach Skiles who said the following about Gardner, "He has played well," coach Scott Skiles said. "He has a nice body and is a good defender. He doesn't try to do too much. He has nice strength. He made one of the most athletic plays I've seen since I've been the coach here." This coming from Skiles, who rarely compliments anyone, yet alone undrafted rookies trying out for the squad, so that is huge. Oh yeah, and in case you missed that athletic play Coach Skiles is talking about, you can check it out below. Gardner put down one of the best dunks of the short pre season thus far, by dunking on fellow rookie, Yi Jianlian's head. It was NASTYYYY!!!!!




And if you thought that dunk was a fluke, check out this other dunk Gardner had in Euro League play below, where he crosses one fool, and pikes on another. Wow.




While there is no certainty that Gardner will make the Bulls this year, I love what I have seen so far, and I have a good feeling that he will jump onto some squad this year for sure. Personally, I'm rooting for Gardner to make the Bulls, so good luck to you Mr. Gardner, and GO BULLS!!!

(All quotes are from Chicagosports.com)