It was a day after the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2024-25 season, and Isaac Okoro was deep into a hot Pilates session when his phone started buzzing. The call from his agent could only mean one thing.

"I came out to class, and I had a call from my agent," Okoro said on the Chicago Bulls' first day of training camp. "So at that point, I knew that I was getting traded. I had a good class, and I had a great opportunity to come here to Chicago. So it was a great day for me."

The moment captures something essential about the Bulls' newest acquisition—a player who maintains his routine and composure even as his professional life shifts beneath him. And yes, he's still looking for a good hot Pilates studio in Chicago.

Okoro arrived in Chicago with a reputation built over five years in Cleveland: a defensive-minded wing who takes pride in guarding opponents' best players and bringing physicality to every possession. The 23-year-old averaged 8.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game with the Cavaliers, but his value extended far beyond the box score. It was a role the Bulls desperately needed, and one Okoro embraced without hesitation.

"I take a lot of responsibility to bring a lot of physicality to this team," Okoro said. "My first five years in the league, that's typically what I did for Cleveland. Pride myself on the defensive side and being physical and not just guarding other teams' best players to try to cause havoc on that end."

His defensive mentality could be traced back to his childhood, when being the best defender was his only ticket onto the court.

"When I was like six, seven years old, the only way I was getting on the court was by playing defense," Okoro said. "Not a lot of people are gonna pick me to be on the court because at that young age, I wasn't shocking people with my offensive abilities. So I knew the only way I could get on was by playing defense."

The Bulls' Head Coach, Billy Donovan, and teammates have already noticed how Okoro's hustle spreads through the roster on media day before the camp started. In this aspect, Okoro believed what he did was contagious.

"If you see one of your teammates dive on the ground, go for a loose ball, they're playing hard, like you don't want to be the guy that is out there looking like they're not playing hard," he said.

The trade itself wasn't a shock. After Cleveland finished at the top of the East Conference but wrapped up the playoffs disappointingly last season, Okoro sensed changes were coming. His role had diminished as the Cavaliers added more offensive firepower, but Okoro insisted he was willing to sacrifice for winning—whether in Cleveland or Chicago.

"Everyone in this league wants to score 20, they probably can score 20," Okoro said. "In order to win, people have to take sacrifices."

Now he gets a fresh start with a Bulls team he's watched from the other side for five years—a team he remembers as fast, athletic, and full of passion. Whether Donovan starts him or brings him off the bench, Okoro's mission is clear: he's helping the team build up a physical identity and win.

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