Pargo is Bulls’ ‘pit boss’

Pargo, 30, has averaged 5.4 points and 1.4 assists in 53 games for the Bulls. He started for a few games while Derrick Rose was out with a wrist injury, but since then he has returned to his familiar role as a reserve
shooter.

During a recent conversation, Pargo revealed that he controls the team’s poker rankings. A dry erase board sits next to Pargo’s locker, where he updates the standings every week or
so.

TM: What’s in your locker?

JP: Um … There’s not much in my locker.

TM: Nothing? You don’t ever want to put a candle in here or anything?

JP: (Laughs) Uh, no. My locker is pretty much average. I’ve got a couple of magazines.

TM: Do you read through them?

JP: No, I just kind of look at the pictures.

TM: How do these lockers compare with your locker when you played in Greece?

JP: They’re all pretty much the same.

TM: Is Taj Gibson a good locker mate?

JP: Yeah, he’s decent.

TM: Does he respect the line?

JP: He doesn’t respect the line. Look, he’s got shoes right here. His chair is here. He does not respect the line. But I’ve got a lot more room over on this side.

TM: Do you get to use this dry-erase board?

JP: Yeah, look – wait, somebody erased my poker rankings.

TM: Who’s the top poker player on the team?

JP: Here, I’m going to show you.

(Pargo proceeds to list the team’s top poker players: “1. Jannero Pargo ; 2. Kirk Hinrich; 3. [Blank]; 4. Brad Miller; 5. Pete Myers; 6. Flip Murray 7. [Blank]; 8. Joe Alexander”)

TM: Wait, but why is there a blank space for No. 3?

JP: Because me and Kirk are playing at such a high level. They’re so far under us.

(“You’ve got to mention me somewhere,” Jerome James says from across the room. “I should get that No. 3 spot.” … Pargo writes in James’ name at No. 9.)