The glory days of the Bulls might be a distant memory to some, but not to their newest player, Andres Nocioni.
“Any basketball player in the world who does not know the history of the Chicago Bulls is not really a basketball player,” said Nocioni, 24, of Argentina in a conversation Thursday with the Tribune.
“I would always watch from Argentina if the Bulls could be found playing on television. Everyone I know did. Obviously, they had the best player in the world in Michael Jordan and also the best team.
“To me, the Bulls are still the Bulls. It will be a great honor for me to put on one of their uniforms.”
The 6-foot-8-inch Nocioni has worn uniform No. 13 in the Olympics, where he has been his team’s third-leading scorer at 10.6 points per game.
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He made a brief visit to Chicago before agreeing to a three-year contract Aug. 12. Nocioni said he enjoyed getting a good look at the United Center and the Jordan statue outside it.
He also liked Lake Michigan.
“It looks more like an ocean to me,” said Nocioni, an avid fisherman. “I cannot wait to get to Chicago and make it my home. It is so huge compared to where I have been. So many big buildings!”
Nocioni, who has been playing for top Spanish club team Tau Ceramica, said having John Paxson as general manager was a reason he signed with the Bulls.
“That was very important to me, that the man directing the team was a man like John Paxson, who won so much as a player,” Nocioni said.
“I also have hoped to play with Scottie Pippen, whose game I have tried to style mine after. I am sad if he is going to retire and I do not get to share a locker room with him for even one year.”
Nocioni will report to the Bulls after the Olympics for his first season in the NBA. His Argentina team beat Greece 69-64 Thursday and will face the U.S. on Friday.