Chicago Bulls content on NBC Sports Chicago
Mark began working at NBC Sports Chicago after graduating from Marquette University in 2012. He was promoted as a secondary reporter and head Bulls Talk producer in 2013, providing coverage behind lead beat reporter Vincent Goodwill, aggregating content from national outlets and editing written content and videos in the downtown Chicago office. He was promoted to the lead beat reporter position in 2018 after Goodwill departed for a national gig at Yahoo! Sports.
In that first season he covered the unique circumstances of former NBA MVP Derrick Rose recovering from ACL surgery. That year Rose played just 10 games before suffering a torn right meniscus, though his injury status created daily headlines as he and the Bulls held out hope the two-time All-Star could return for the playoffs. That same year the Bulls traded away Luol Deng, who had played all 10 of his NBA seasons in Chicago, while Joakim Noah single-handedly kept the Bulls' championship aspirations alive, earning first team All-NBA honors. The Bulls eventually bowed out to the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs.
NBC Sports Chicago's primary beat reporter left prior to the 2014-15 NBA season, leaving Mark in charge of covering the NBA Draft, media day, preseason, practices and home games. That year Jimmy Butler, who Mark also covered as a student at Marquette, became an All-Star, Pau Gasol proved to be the NBA's top free-agent signing and Derrick Rose once again battled various injuries. Mark also provided analysis on Bulls Road Ahead video segments.
The Bulls struggled during the 2015-16 season, ultimately missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. But they hosted teams with national intrigue, including the 73-win Warriors, the eventual champion Cavaliers and the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant playing in his final season. The Bulls' lackluster season meant more interest on the NBA Draft from readers. Mark produced more than 50 draft profiles, analyzed top prospects in video segments and wrote player features after covering the combine in Chicago. He covered draft night and wrote a feature on the team's first round pick, Michigan State's Denzel Valentine.
In 2016 the Bulls were active in free agency, signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, while Jimmy Butler has exploded as a legitimate MVP candidate. In addition to his coverage, Mark has also provided weekly power rankings to provide fans with insight from around the league.
He began the 2017 offseason by publishing his first mock draft, providing analysis on all 30 first-round picks. The Bulls were busy on draft night, dealing Jimmy Butler to former coach Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves. The Bulls moved up in the first round to select Arizona stretch forward Lauri Markkanen.
With the team in rebuild mode, much of Mark's focus during the 2018 NBA season was looking ahead to the next piece of the team's foundation. That included columns on top prospects such as Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, Trae Young and Mo Bamba. Ultimately the Bulls opted for Duke center Wendell Carter Jr., signaling - as Mark wrote on draft night - that Markkanen was the face of the franchise.
2019 was another rebuilding year for the Bulls, though Mark's reporting included some highlights like a career night for both Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine, the Bulls trading for Otto Porter 30 minutes before a game in February, and the Bulls missing out on the Zion Williamson sweepstakes at the NBA Draft Lottery.
Mark also runs the @NBCSBulls Twitter account, which over the last two years has been the fastest rising account among any NBC Sports RSN handle.
You can find all of Mark's Bulls content at NBCSportsChicago.com here. Click on the "Clips" tab on the top of this page to see additional stories.
In that first season he covered the unique circumstances of former NBA MVP Derrick Rose recovering from ACL surgery. That year Rose played just 10 games before suffering a torn right meniscus, though his injury status created daily headlines as he and the Bulls held out hope the two-time All-Star could return for the playoffs. That same year the Bulls traded away Luol Deng, who had played all 10 of his NBA seasons in Chicago, while Joakim Noah single-handedly kept the Bulls' championship aspirations alive, earning first team All-NBA honors. The Bulls eventually bowed out to the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs.
NBC Sports Chicago's primary beat reporter left prior to the 2014-15 NBA season, leaving Mark in charge of covering the NBA Draft, media day, preseason, practices and home games. That year Jimmy Butler, who Mark also covered as a student at Marquette, became an All-Star, Pau Gasol proved to be the NBA's top free-agent signing and Derrick Rose once again battled various injuries. Mark also provided analysis on Bulls Road Ahead video segments.
The Bulls struggled during the 2015-16 season, ultimately missing the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. But they hosted teams with national intrigue, including the 73-win Warriors, the eventual champion Cavaliers and the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant playing in his final season. The Bulls' lackluster season meant more interest on the NBA Draft from readers. Mark produced more than 50 draft profiles, analyzed top prospects in video segments and wrote player features after covering the combine in Chicago. He covered draft night and wrote a feature on the team's first round pick, Michigan State's Denzel Valentine.
In 2016 the Bulls were active in free agency, signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, while Jimmy Butler has exploded as a legitimate MVP candidate. In addition to his coverage, Mark has also provided weekly power rankings to provide fans with insight from around the league.
He began the 2017 offseason by publishing his first mock draft, providing analysis on all 30 first-round picks. The Bulls were busy on draft night, dealing Jimmy Butler to former coach Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves. The Bulls moved up in the first round to select Arizona stretch forward Lauri Markkanen.
With the team in rebuild mode, much of Mark's focus during the 2018 NBA season was looking ahead to the next piece of the team's foundation. That included columns on top prospects such as Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, Trae Young and Mo Bamba. Ultimately the Bulls opted for Duke center Wendell Carter Jr., signaling - as Mark wrote on draft night - that Markkanen was the face of the franchise.
2019 was another rebuilding year for the Bulls, though Mark's reporting included some highlights like a career night for both Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine, the Bulls trading for Otto Porter 30 minutes before a game in February, and the Bulls missing out on the Zion Williamson sweepstakes at the NBA Draft Lottery.
Mark also runs the @NBCSBulls Twitter account, which over the last two years has been the fastest rising account among any NBC Sports RSN handle.
You can find all of Mark's Bulls content at NBCSportsChicago.com here. Click on the "Clips" tab on the top of this page to see additional stories.