Former SIU standout point guard Bryan Mullins may swap his Saluki maroon for Bulls red or Celtic green.
The Boston Celtics started a three-day workout for Mullins Sunday, less than one week after he worked out for the Chicago Bulls.
On Monday, Mullins worked out with Notre Dame’s Kyle McAlarney and Missouri’s Leo Lyons among others. Mullins said he was pleased with his performance at the world’s highest level of basketball. “I thought I did pretty good,” he said. “They were impressed with my defense and my passing.”
A four-year starter at SIU, Mullins was most known for his defense and teamwork as one of only two players to tally more than 500 assists and 250 steals in Missouri Valley Conference history. Former Saluki teammate Carlton Fay said he was confident Bryan Mullins would do all he could to make an NBA roster.
“He’s a great player,” Fay said. “You know he’s going to do all he can do to make it.”
Prior to Boston, Mullins worked out with Chicago on June 16. He had the opportunity to showcase his skills against top prospects including Florida’s Nick Calathes, Eric Maynor of Virginia Commonwealth and Jeff Teague of Wake Forest, whom the Salukis pursued out of high school.
Mike Mullins, the father of the former Saluki captain, said the Celtics really liked what they saw when his son was at the Reebok NBA Eurocamp in Italy.
“He had a great trip to Italy,” Mike Mullins said. “He’s been playing against lottery picks.”
Mike Mullins is the head coach of the Illinois Wolves, an Amateur Athletic Union basketball program that has helped prepare many athletes, such as Fay, University of Illinois’ Demitri McCamey and Ohio State’s Evan Turner, for college-level basketball.
At an early age, Mike Mullins said he taught his son to always compete and work hard, a lesson Bryan Mullins has carried with him through his basketball career.
“He was awesome,” Fay said of his teammate of two seasons. “He’s got great court vision and he was a great teammate.”
In Chicago, not only did Bryan Mullins perform in shooting drills, one-on-one, two-on-two and three-on-three scrimmages for the Bulls, but he also trained at Attack Athletics with Tim Grover, who worked with Michael Jordan before his pro days.
Mike Mullins said he couldn’t be prouder of his son.
“We’re more excited that he’s healthy and he’s able to be pursuing his dream,” he said.
