Hutchison makes his NBA debut Thursday. Here’s how you can watch the Boise State alum.

Chandler Hutchison’s first season as an NBA basketball player officially starts Thursday.

The 2018 Boise State graduate is expected to make his regular-season debut when the Chicago Bulls face the Philadelphia 76ers at 6 p.m. MT Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. The game will be televised on TNT.

Hutchison, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2018 draft, came off the bench in all five of the Bulls’ preseason games. He averaged 4.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 23 minutes per game.

As a senior at Boise State, Hutchison became the first player in program history to lead the Broncos in points (20.0), rebounds (7.7), assists (3.5) and steals (1.5). He broke the Broncos’ single-game scoring record with 44 points against eventual Mountain West Tournament champion San Diego State on Jan. 13.

But Hutchison says he’s taking on a more defensive role in his rookie season with the Bulls.

“It’s more, that’s the way I could help the team,” Hutchison told the Chicago Daily Herald. “We’ve got so many things (working) offensively. That’s not going to be an issue. So defensively, when I come in, make it noticeable that, ‘Oh, we’re doing better on defense, look who’s on the floor,’ that type of thing. So that’s what I’m trying to focus on right now.”

With preseason injuries to teammates Lauri Markkanen and Denzel Valentine, the 6-foot-7, 197-pound Hutchison could be in line for more playing time.

“With Chandler, you can see he’s getting more comfortable every day,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told the Daily Herald. “He’s a guy that picks things up very quickly. He’s a smart kid, he’s got a high IQ. He’s been great on the practice floor. He’s a guy that I think will be a very good defender in this league that is able to guard multiple positions.”

Chicago’s home opener at the United Center is at 6 p.m. MT Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.

Hutchison hopes to make a good impression, particularly on defense.

“I always prided myself on being a two-way player,” Hutchison told the Daily Herald. “I carried such a load offensively (at Boise State), that maybe I couldn’t be that guy at times, but I’ve always wanted to guard the best guy on the other team and to not slack off or just be one guy offensively. I’ve always carried myself that way.”

This story was originally published October 15, 2018 at 4:48 PM.