Kevin Huerter was once a starter in the NBA.
Drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, he earned consistent starting minutes throughout his early career. Even after being traded to the Sacramento Kings, he remained in the starting lineup, posting a career-high 15.2 points per game while shooting above 40% from three during the 2022-23 season.
Then things unraveled. An injury during the 2023-24 season sidelined him and wiped out the remainder of that campaign. When he returned for the 2024-25 season, Sacramento had shifted its offensive strategy, and Huerter found himself pushed out of the starting rotation. His production plummeted to a career-low 7.9 points in 20.9 minutes per game for the rest of his time with the Kings.
But a midseason trade changed everything. Huerter was packaged with Tre Jones and Zach Collins from the Spurs and sent to Chicago in exchange for Zach LaVine, a franchise player who had spent more than seven years with the Bulls. The deal marked a clear shift toward a new chapter for Chicago, even if many didn't see it that way at the time.
After finishing the 2024-25 season strong with the Bulls, Huerter has carried that momentum into the new year as a fixed sixth man. Billy Donovan typically calls his number around five minutes into games, and Huerter has responded emphatically. Through four games, he's averaging 14.8 points in 25.6 minutes while shooting 54.1% from the field — already surpassing his 13.2-point average from 26 games with Chicago last season.
Whether he'll earn starting minutes later in the season remains uncertain, but Huerter seems content with his current role.
"To me, it doesn't really matter," Huerter said during the preseason. "I trust Billy, I trust his judgment."
What's most impressive about Huerter's early-season performance is how he's adapted his game. Known primarily as a catch-and-shoot specialist — 50% of his scoring came from those opportunities last season — he's now embracing a more physical style that aligns with the Bulls' newly established identity. He's attacking the rim more frequently, with shots inside the perimeter rising from 35.3% last season to 51.4% this year, per NBA Stats.
The most notable change? His free-throw frequency. He's looking more decisive in drawing fouls throughout four games. Over nine NBA seasons with different teams previously, Huerter averaged just 0.9 free-throw attempts per game. Through four games this season, he's nearly quadrupling that rate with approximately four attempts per game—a significant contributor to his scoring uptick.
While his three-point shooting has been shaky at 33.3% so far in this season, his catch-and-shoot capability remains a weapon. Against the Kings at home, he scored 18 points and connected on three of five attempts from deep, proving his range is still dangerous.
Given that the Bulls currently rank second in assists, first in drives, and third in defensive rating, it's no surprise Huerter is thriving again in Donovan's high-tempo scheme. He's embraced the team's physical identity since arriving in Chicago, and whether he remains the primary sixth man tasked with solving the Bulls' often-sloppy starts or eventually reclaims a starting role, one thing is clear: Huerter looks poised to spend a significant portion of his prime delivering instant impact off the bench.
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