Isaac Okoro played his first game of the 2025 NBA preseason in familiar territory. He took the floor in Rocket Arena, the same arena where he had spent the previous five years of his career. The only difference
is that this time around, Okoro was wearing the opposing jersey.
The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Okoro to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Lonzo Ball this summer. Okoro was one of the longest tenured members of this Cavalier team, with his departure marking another step into ‘championship or bust’ territory for the Cavs. The decision to trade for Ball was purely centered on raising Cleveland’s playoff ceiling.
“He was part of this beautiful culture we have here,” said Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson. “So that’s tough when you lose a guy like that.”
Okoro was selected fifth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. While he never blossomed into the next ‘3-and-D’ star, Okoro did take incremental steps forward as a three-point shooter in each year of his career — and immediately became one of Cleveland’s best perimeter defenders.
“He was a defensive stopper,” said Atkinson. “Ice was really a stopper, so we’d love to find another guy on this team that can come close to replicating what he did on the defensive end.”
The Cavs came to rely on Okoro’s point-of-attack defense throughout his tenure. He was consistently one of the most physical and athletic members on the team, even though his offensive limitations put a cap on how impactful he could be. Okoro embraced his role, playing within his strengths and doing whatever the team asked of him.
“He’s in your group of favorite players, he’s in that bucket,” Atkinson said. “On a human level, just even-keeled, kind, coachable, he never complained. I told Billy [Donovan], you’re just gonna love this guy. He’s a coach’s dream.”
Okoro enters a much different environment in Chicago. The Bulls aren’t competing for a title anytime soon. He’s landed in a place where, at just 24 years old, Okoro can prioritize his individual development more than he did in Cleveland.
“He’s been great to work with,” Bull’s head coach Billy Donovan said. “The biggest thing for him is he understands who he is as a player, and he plays the game to his strengths.”
The Cavs weren’t able to afford Okoro as many developmental reps as you’d expect for a lottery pick. Okoro’s timeline was accelerated when Cleveland traded for Donovan Mitchell and shortly after became a contender. It’s possible that Okoro will have more freedom in his role with Chicago.
“To his credit, he really improved his three-point shooting from the corners. He’s certainly guarded all the best guys all over the place throughout his career,” Donovan said. “To say there’ll be more opportunity or not, I don’t know if that’s necessarily the way Isaac plays; He plays within himself.”
It’s easy to point towards Okoro’s draft status and complain that he didn’t live up to being a top-five pick. But all of that aside — he’s grown into a defensively stout 6’5” guard who has no problem playing without the ball and knocking down corner three-pointers. There’s certainly room for him to grow. But as of now, Okoro is content with doing all of the ‘role player’ things and keeping his coaches happy in the process.
