The veteran guard's bench eruption ignited Chicago's big Monday win.
The Bulls don't have many veterans on the roster. One of the few, Nikola Vucevic, was grinding through his usual 35-minute starting duty. The other — seven-year veteran guard Jevon Carter — sat on the bench in a Bulls’ sports hoodie, waving towels and cheering for his teammates.
But Carter became the unsung hero of Chicago's triumphant 130-127 win over Denver on Monday night. When his name was called, his relentless three-point shooting ignited the Bulls against the former NBA champion.
"This guy's work ethic is unbelievable. He's one of the hardest working people I've ever seen," Billy Donovan said postgame.
Carter has found his rhythm recently after sitting quietly on the bench during the Bulls' early games. Against Denver, he exploded off the bench for 15 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes, shooting 5-of-10 from three-point range. His scoring was a significant part of Chicago's 66 bench points that night—a weapon that's become essential to the Bulls' identity.
As Donovan continues promoting high-tempo, relentless attack, Carter has asserted himself as one of the best go-to players who embodies that mindset. Facing the Nuggets without Coby White— who sat out after playing beyond his minute restriction in Sunday's double-overtime loss to Utah— Carter, the most fully-charged player who hadn't played the night before, showcased his full strength and dynamism.
After the Bulls gained a slight lead in the first quarter, they unleashed an 18-6 run in the second that bombarded Denver. Carter led the charge with decisive pull-up threes while sprinting back and forth in transition. In the later rallies that Chicago weathered down the stretch, Carter continued showing up with timely shooting. He simply plugged in at the right moments.
"I'm just hooping, man," Carter told The Athletic. "I'm just out there hooping."
This spark-plug impact from the veteran guard had previously shown in the loss to Detroit. Despite the Bulls struggling against an extremely short-handed Pistons, Carter logged decent minutes and scored 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from deep in 17 minutes.
Anyone watching him work in the facility could've predicted his moment would come. Carter is constantly drilling three-point shots with Jalen Smith, refining his craft and staying ready.
The Bulls ended their five-game losing streak with a high-profile win over Denver, proving they can compete against big teams despite lacking star power. The bench has been a legitimate threat, as Donovan and players have repeatedly emphasized. With White still working back to full strength—minute limits or rest expected over the next few games, more of Carter's presence is possible.
His work ethic, shooting consistency and readiness to contribute whenever called upon make him the perfect veteran presence for a young team still searching for its identity. Carter doesn't demand minutes or attention. He just stays ready, works harder than anyone and delivers when the Bulls need him most.
On Monday night in Denver, that preparation paid off. And as Chicago looks to build momentum from snapping their losing streak, Carter's relentless shooting and professional approach could be exactly what they need moving forward.
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