Isaac Okoro will officially return to Cleveland with the Bulls

Ex Cleveland Cavaliers guard Isaac Okoro will officially be back at Rocket Arena on Saturday night with Chicago Bulls. Both teams will be in the second night of back-to-back NBA Central division matchups between the Eastern Conference’s top three teams.

Okoro originally returned to tip off the preseason on Oct. 7 and faced the wine and gold twice. After the game, “Ice” said that he has mixed emotions and that it hasn’t hit him yet. He was happy to see his old teammates, calling it a “good feeling.”

With another franchise, Okoro reached out to Cavs for Lonzo Ball and issued a warning to the Cleveland organization when he would face his former team.

“I feel like they got a great player in Lonca and the Bulls got me,” Okoro said after the preseason opener. “It felt like both teams got what they needed for their team, and overall it was good.”

“At the end of the day, I’m with the Chicago Bulls and I’m trying to beat Cleveland every day.”

This time, a month from that night, it will count. It will be intriguing to watch the 2020 fifth pick compete against the team that drafted him in his old stomping grounds.

“You have your favorite group of players that you’ve coached; he’s in that bucket,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “What a great human being, obviously gave a lot to this organization. Another guy that’s part of this beautiful culture that we have here. It’s tough when you lose a guy like that. Just a great, great person.”

“Even-tempered, kind, coachable. His teammates loved him. He never complained. He’s one of those rare, rare breeds.”

Okoro will undoubtedly guard Donovan Mitchell from then on always defend the opponent’s best scorer. We’ll also see him go up against old friend Darius Garland for the first time in a different uniform. Ice just can’t be too aggressive, given the trouble he got into earlier this year.

He is starting to learn the tendencies of his Chicago teammates and has been an integral part of a 6-2 start to the season.

Since the beginning of November, Okoro has an average of 12.0 points on 56.0% from the field, including 41.7% from long range. His turnovers are down, he’s averaging a steal per game, and he’s getting his feet wet with Billy Donovan and the Bulls.

“It’s a great opportunity for him,” Atkinson said. “I know he’s probably going to get more touches and more action, so I’m happy for him. He’s got a good organization, a really good coach.”