This ‘Dawg’ is suddenly not biting or barking, but Kris Dunn is ready

Kris Dunn doesn’t back down from a fight.

The self-appointed “dawg’’ of the Bulls’ roster has been very consistent with that mentality, especially when it comes to the idea of the organization bringing in another point guard to try and take his starting job.

This offseason the Bulls brought in two.

Yet, for the first time in three preseasons, the “dawg’’ wasn’t biting.

“They told me in the exit meetings [last spring] those things were going to happen,’’ Dunn said on Monday, when asked if he was taking the competition personally. “It’s part of the business. You can’t be a professional if you can’t take on those kinds of things. I’ve been really good. They allowed me to go home a little bit to be around my family, my son, my friends. Just work my butt off. Be a good teammate. Try to do anything I can to help this team win.’’

Maturity? Being humbled? The realization that this is a business in the wake of another disappointing season for Dunn?

Maybe all of the above.

“You know me,’’ Dunn said, when asked if he has been humbled. “I tell people this all the time: I’m big on film. I’m not really worried about the others. I think to be the best I can, I have to go see what I did wrong. Assess each year and that’s what I do year after year. I have some people in my corner who are not just yes-men — my family, my friends, some of my old teammates. They played a big part: ‘Kris, you gotta do this better.’ And I agreed with them. You have to own up as a man to the things you have to do better. I did that and got into the gym and came back with a clear-headed mind.’’

He’ll need it, as the Bulls did a sign-and-trade for Tomas Satoransky and drafted Coby White with the No. 7 overall pick.

Let the training-camp battles begin.

“I don’t expect it to be a rivalry between us,’’ Satoransky said. “I don’t even know if I’m going to play against him a lot at the point-guard position [in camp]. I think it’s about getting better and getting the best out of us, not only Kris and me but also Coby and Arc [Ryan Arcidiacono]. And like I said, there’s a lot of guys who can make plays with the ball, and I really like that. I think everybody should bring the best out of each other in training camp, and that’s what’s going to happen.’’

Return of the king?

Zach LaVine has been very hush-hush about returning to the Slam Dunk contest this season, but word during September workouts was he was already fine-tuning some ridiculous dunks . . . just in case.

LaVine, a two-time winner of the contest, did hint that a return could happen, especially with the All-Star festivities in Chicago this February.

“On the dunk contest, it’s in the back of my mind,’’ LaVine said. “I’ve had that stage to where I played on Saturday. Obviously, I want to play on Sunday [in the All-Star Game].

“If my legs are at the right way, I feel like maybe I’ll do it.’’

At the same time LaVine was saying that, teammate Lauri Markkanen sounded like he already knew the answer.

“I’m not saying anything that he’s doing it or anything like that, I’ve just seen the stuff he does,’’ Markkanen said. “Oh, he’s got something for you.’’