Chicago Bulls are embracing ‘Lachie' Olbrich, their 2nd-round pick: ‘He's going to hurt someone'
'I love it,' he said. 'The weather's beautiful and being out by the lake has been pretty cool. Italian beef is cool (but) I can't eat it too much; otherwise, I'll bulk up.'
Of course, Olbrich arrived in the summer. Time will tell if the weather statement holds.
The Bulls selected the Australian forward/center with the No. 55 pick in last month's draft after a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. He's one of eight international players on the 14-man summer league roster, which has been practicing this week at the Advocate Center.
The Adelaide native began his professional career at 17 in his home country's National Basketball League. He played one college season at UC Riverside in 2022-23, averaging 11.4 points and 6.1 rebounds and earning Big West Freshman of the Year honors, before returning to Australia. He spent the last two years with the NBL's Illawarra Hawks and averaged 8.4 points and 3.8 rebounds this past season.
Now 21, Olbrich is ready for his next stint of American basketball — in which the competition in Las Vegas will include fellow 2025 draftees such as Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. He compared basketball overseas with his time in the U.S.
'(The transition) has honestly been quite easy,' Olbrich said. 'It's a little bit of a difference, but I feel like I can slide into any role I'm asked to. (Here) it's up-tempo with a lot of freak athletes. The three-second rule I've had to adjust a little bit too.'
He credited the 'improving' Australian basketball programs for developing players to be ready for the NBA.
'Even in your junior clubs, different states are developing decent talent,' Olbrich said. 'Everywhere in Australia is improving and it's good to see.'
As he adjusts to Chicago, the Bulls have welcomed Olbrich with open arms. They already have a nickname for him — so common that Windy City Bulls and summer league coach Billy Donovan III 'took a pause for a second' when hearing Olbrich's full first name.
'He goes by Lachie,' Donovan said with a smile. 'He's going to hurt someone with how hard he plays, but he's been a joy to coach. If you tell him to run through a wall, he'll try to run through two of them. He plays with a chip on his shoulder but in a good way.'
Added Olbrich: 'I say my name is Lachie — that's the abbreviated name for Lachlan — but the Americans kind of hear it as Lachie (pronounced LOCK-ee). That's been my nickname for the past two years now.'
The NBA's Australian contingent includes Most Improved Player winner Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Bulls guard Josh Giddey, currently a restricted free agent. The 22-year-old Giddey also had a breakout season in 2024-25, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.
'That's my boy; we're under the same agent.' Olbrich said of Giddey. 'We've had some tournaments (in Australia) where I've played against him. We've touched base in the last year quite a few times, and hopefully we get (him) back here to work.'
Today's NBA is loaded with overseas talent, including superstars such as Nikola Jokić (Serbia), Luka Dončić (Slovenia) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) — Olbrich's favorite player.
'Coming in as the No. 55 pick, I'm really grateful for everything, but (it's) baby steps for now,' Olbrich said. 'I'm here for my team, to make everyone better and keep grinding on the court. That's all I can do right now.'
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