Chicago Bulls · The Chicago Bulls won at least 40 games for the second consecutive season but did not qualify for the playoffs after falling short of the eighth seed against the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament. DeMar DeRozan earned his sixth All-Star nod and second with Chicago after averaging 24.5 points and 5.1 assists per game, and he became the 50th player in NBA history to reach 20,000 career points on October 28. In the first season of a five-year deal, Zach LaVine had another strong showing while averaging 24.8 points across a career-high 77 games. In his second season in Chicago, Alex Caruso earned a spot on the NBA All-Defensive First Team, with the Bulls ranking fifth in defensive rating and seventh in opponent points per game as a team. Veteran center Nikola Vučević started all 82 games and finished third in the league with 51 double-doubles. Both Vučević and fourth-year reserve guard Coby White signed three-year contract extensions after the season to remain in Chicago. · State of Mint · State of Mint