Vinny Del Negro gets a mixed reaction in Chicago

Reporting From Chicago

Down memory lane …

Two .500 seasons don’t lead to banner headlines or special sections, but there was a fairly substantial media turnout for former Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro’s first game back at United Center.

The Clippers coach held court in front of the notepads and TV cameras before Saturday’s game. Chicago went 41-41 in both of his seasons here and he was fired in May.

“I’m very proud of what we accomplished here in two years,” said Del Negro, who led the Bulls to two playoff berths, both losses in the first round. “I appreciate having the opportunity to coach the Bulls. I told Jerry [owner Jerry Reinsdorf] that. The fans are great and the history here is tremendous and the team is in a much better position now after the two years I was here.

“Was it easy at times? Of course not.”

The fans treated him with a mixture of boos and cheers and some indifference during pregame announcements.

But he summed it up, more or less, before the game.

“Now I’ve moved on,” Del Negro said. “They’ve moved on. And that’s part of pro sports.”

Etc.

Clippers forward Brian Cook walked gingerly down the hall into the locker room. Cook suffered a sprained right ankle in the final minute of Friday’s victory against Detroit.

“It’s bad,” Del Negro said of the ankle.

Cook will be out at least a week and the ankle will be re-evaluated at that point.

“I’m trying to get the swelling out of there. I’ll do what I can to get back as soon as I can,” Cook said. “It’s kind of hard to push off with it right now. I’m just going to take my time and try to get it right.”

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

twitter.com/reallisa