Denzel Valentine sparring with Bulls coach over falling out of rotation

The Chicago Bulls have lost seven of their first ten games, and now one of their players is butting heads with their head coach.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Bulls coach Jim Boylen was asked why swingman Denzel Valentine was out of the rotation.

“Because I said so,” he replied, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN. Boylen also said that Valentine needs to stay ready “because I think he needs some seasoning, he needs to play and he needs to grow” in all areas of the game. For his part meanwhile, Valentine said to ESPN that “I feel like I should play.”

The ex-Michigan State star Valentine, 25, has appeared in just one game for the Bulls all season, getting five minutes of garbage time in a blowout loss to Toronto last month. He missed all of the 2018-19 season due to ankle surgery.

While Boylen agreed to a contract extension with the Bulls earlier this year, his hard-nosed coaching style also led to issues with players last season.