Months after the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics fought tooth and nail against each other in what has been called the greatest first round series in NBA history, Bryan Mullins will fight to make one of the two teams’ rosters.

Although his name was not called during Thursday’s NBA Draft, Mullins will play summer league ball for both the Bulls and the Celtics, who each expressed interest in him prior to the draft. Mullins said he was lucky to have the opportunity to play both sides.

‘I’m really excited to have the chance to play with both of those teams,’ Mullins said. ‘It’s good that they’re playing in separate leagues so I can play for both.’

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The summer league traditionally includes players with fewer than three seasons of NBA experience, rookies selected in that season’s draft and undrafted free agents such as Mullins.’

Mullins and the Celtics will play their summer league games in Orlando, Fla., from July 6 to July 10.

Mullins will then head to Las Vegas with the Bulls to play five more games beginning July 14.

Mike Mullins, father of the former SIU guard, said that while watching the draft along with his son at their home in Downers Grove, they were excited about the possibility of him being drafted.

‘ Some analysts had projected the Celtics to pick Mullins with their lone second round pick, but they opted for Tennessee-Martin guard Lester Hudson instead.

‘He was one of three players the Celtics were looking at in the draft,’ Mike Mullins said. ‘He was guaranteed by both teams to play for their summer league teams.’

The rosters have not yet been announced for both teams, but with the Celtics, Mullins and company will be playing the Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers.

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The Celtics will play five games in five days at the RDV Sportsplex in Orlando.

The Bulls will be at the COX Pavilion in Las Vegas and will play against five of the 10 teams that will be there, starting with the Golden State Warriors.

Bryan Mullins said he knows he will have to showcase his talent to the best of his abilities for both teams if he wants to play in the NBA next season.

‘You never really know about those things,’ he said.

Former SIU standout Jamaal Tatum, who Mullins played with for two seasons, went undrafted in a similar situation two years ago before playing for the Atlanta Hawks summer league team.

Tatum didn’t make the team, but was performing well in the NBA Developmental League before falling to injury.

But regardless of Mullins’ NBA future, his family is ecstatic for him.

‘It’s great to see that he’s healthy and that he’s chasing his dream; he’s earned his right to chase it,’ Mike Mullins said.’ ‘It’s a tangible dream at this point, but it’s been all good news for us so far.’