SAD NEWS: Bulls excluded from the NBA All-Star game for the first time since 2020.

The reserves for this month’s All-Star game in Cleveland were unveiled by the NBA on TNT team on Thursday night. As expected, the Bulls’ 23-26 record and diminished scoring production from DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine have left them on the outside looking in for the time being.

The Bulls have not advanced to the All-Star game since 2020, but NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is anticipated to select a substitute for the ailing Julius Randle. In 2021, LaVine made his debut, the first of two consecutive games. In addition to playing in the game last season, DeRozan joined LaVine in 2022.

The Bulls’ lone outside reserve option was DeRozan, who is playing well this season and is second in the team’s overall minutes played, behind teammate Coby White. However, his decreased usage rate contributes to his lower score. Additionally, he is shooting at a lower percentage than he did in his first two seasons with the Bulls.

With a usage rate of 24.7 and a shooting percentage of 46.7, DeRozan is averaging 22 points, 5.3 assists, and 4 rebounds. DeRozan averaged 24.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 50.4 percent in the previous campaign. His rate of use was 27.8.

LaVine has only played in 25 of the Bulls’ 49 games due to an injured ankle that has mostly healed and ongoing irritation in his right foot. In addition to his declining field goal and 3-point percentages from his All-Star seasons, his scoring average has decreased from 24.8 to 19.5.