With Derrick Rose out for the season and Jimmy Butler still banged up, the Chicago Bulls need very solid production from Kirk Hinrich. Here’s the Chicago Tribune reporting:

kirk hinrich

Hinrich sat out 22 times last season with injuries to his right hip, left knee, right elbow and right foot. Entering Saturday, his fifth start, he was averaging 29.1 minutes per game.

“It’s just being ready from the jump,” Hinrich said. “But other than that, I approach my job the same.”

Asked if Hinrich can handle an increased role, coach Tom Thibodeau was non-committal.

“We’ll see what he can handle,” Thibodeau said. “He looks good right now. He has to continue to work.”

Thibodeau left no doubt on how he feels Hinrich has played thus far this season.