The Play-In Tournament averaged 2.64 million viewers across ESPN and TNT, the NBA announced on Monday.

The viewership represents a 5% increase from last year.

The league also reported 441 million social media views across all platforms, up 63% from last year.

Friday night's game between the Timberwolves and Thunder averaged 2.5 million viewers on ESPN. The earlier game between the Heat and Bulls averaged 2.2 million viewers on TNT. 

Unrestricted free agent Nikola Vucevic said that he will test the market this summer, though added that the Chicago Bulls will have the inside track on re-signing him.

"The Bulls will have priority. I'd like to stay here. But that's on the front office to decide and work with my agent," said Vucevic.

Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said that he wanted to re-sign Vucevic, as well as bring back the core of the team. 

Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds last season.

Arturas Karnisovas said that there is still no timetable for Lonzo Ball's return to the court on Saturday.

Ball has undergone three surgeries on his left knee since last playing on January 14, 2022.

"I have confidence that he's going to come back. In terms of timeline, I don't have that timeline right now because he just had his procedure," said Karnisovas.

Karnisovas also did not say whether the Bulls would petition the league for salary relief should Ball's injury be career-ending. Ball currently has $43 million left on his contract. 

Arturas Karnisovas said that the Chicago Bulls are planning on bringing back the core of its roster as opposed to rebuilding this offseason.

"That's been thrown around all this season. Blow up, rebuild. It's not on our minds," said Karnisovas on Saturday, a day after the team's play-in game loss to the Heat.

Karnisovas pointed to the team's 14-9 record after the All-Star Break as evidence that they are headed in the right direction.

Karnisovas added that the Bulls want to re-sign Coby White this season, as well as bring back unrestricted free agent Nikola Vucevic.

"The Bulls will have priority," said Vucevic on Saturday.

The Bulls will also be looking to add more 3-point shooting this offseason.

"At the end of the day, to be a .500 team is not good enough. It's not good enough for this organization, it's not good enough for the fan base. They deserve better. So, I'm going to have to look at everything. How I can help this group to do better. We have to move forward. I'll be open to anything," said Karnisovas.

DeMar DeRozan's daughter was escorted out of Scotiabank Arena by security on Wednesday due to online threats following the Chicago Bulls' 109-105 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Diar DeRozan went viral for her screams while the Raptors were at the free throw line.

"It's crazy. It's the world we live in. No matter how good something could be, you still got miserable people that just don't have a life, honestly. It's sad.

"All I care about is my daughter enjoying her moment," said DeRozan on Friday.

The Raptors shot 18-for-36 from the free throw line in the loss. 

Tuesday night's play-in game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Lakers averaged 3.47 million viewers on TNT.

The viewership stands as the second largest in play-in game history, only trailing the Lakers game against the Warriors from two years ago. It was also the second most-watched game of the season on cable, trailing the Lakers-Warriors game from opening night.

Wednesday night's Thunder-Pelicans game averaged 2.86 million viewers.

In the Eastern Conference, the Hawks-Heat matchup averaged 2.25 million viewers on TNT. The Bulls-Raptors game averaged 2.18 million viewers for ESPN. 

Carlik Jones has been named the 2022-23 NBA G League Most Valuable Player for his play with the Windy City Bulls. Jones earned the honor in a vote by the league’s 30 head coaches and general managers. 

Sacramento Kings Two-Way center Neemias Queta and Brooklyn Nets Two-Way guard David Duke Jr. finished second and third respectively. 

Jones averaged an NBA G League-high 26.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.7 steals in 38.3 minutes through 24 games for the Windy City Bulls. An NBA G League Next Up Game selection, Jones recorded seven games with at least 30 points this season.  He also earned NBA G League Player of the Month honors for February after leading Windy City to a 6-2 record.

Jones’ strong play led to him signing a Two-Way contract with Chicago in December. He signed a standard NBA contract with the team in March.