It’s been a long time since
Chicago basketball felt this good.
The United Center hasn’t buzzed
like this in years, and it’s not because of a flashy superstar, a
high-profile signing, or a sudden scoring explosion. It’s because
the Bulls – yes, these Bulls – are finally playing like a team
again.
Through the first seven games of
the 2025-26 NBA season, the severely underrated Chicago Bulls have
stormed out to a 6–1 record, sitting at the top of the Eastern
Conference standings. For a franchise that has spent much of the
past decade searching for identity and direction, this early surge
represents something far more meaningful than wins and
losses.
It’s about rediscovering what
Chicago basketball used to stand for: toughness, selflessness, and
unity.
A new identity, finally defined
For years, the Bulls’ offense
revolved around Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan – two elite scorers
whose individual brilliance often overshadowed the collective. They
were both incredible in isolation, capable of creating something
out of nothing, but their styles never fully meshed with what head
coach Billy Donovan envisioned.
This season, the picture looks
entirely different. Without LaVine and DeRozan, Donovan has
reshaped the Bulls into a system-driven, motion-heavy team that
thrives on movement, cutting, and passing. There’s no ball-dominant
alpha demanding touches. Instead, every possession feels
deliberate, purposeful – a shared effort rather than a solo
performance.
The Bulls are just playing
basketball the right way, they are screening, cutting, and trusting
each other. Everyone touches the ball, and everyone
matters.
The Bulls may not have a
top-tier offensive engine or a dominant space creator, but they’ve
replaced that with balance, energy, and discipline. The result is a
brand of basketball that is winning, and one that is repeatable,
although it remains to be seen if it is sustainable to get them to
the playoffs.
The key players behind the surge: Nikola Vucevic and
Josh Giddey
At the heart of it all is Nikola
Vucevic, the steadying veteran whose game has aged like fine
wine.
At 35, Vucevic isn’t just
surviving in today’s pace-and-space NBA, he’s thriving. He’s
averaging near a double-double once again, but it’s his leadership
that’s had the bigger impact. He anchors Chicago’s offense with
smart positioning and inside-out passing as well as his elite floor
spacing, while providing an example for the team’s younger players
about consistency and professionalism.
If Vucevic is the team’s heart,
Josh Giddey has become its brain.
After a tense summer restricted
free agency saga, Giddey returned to Chicago with something to
prove – and it shows. Fresh off signing a long-term deal, he’s
playing with an assertiveness and confidence that eluded him in
previous seasons. Giddey has found his groove and his playmaking
has been elite, threading passes and elevating the play of everyone
around him.
More importantly, Giddey has
found the balance between facilitating and attacking. His improved
scoring aggression has kept defenses honest, opening up cutting
lanes and rhythm shots for teammates. Early on, he’s looking every
bit like an All-Star – and the Bulls are reaping the
benefits.
The potential of Matas Buzelis and the rise of Ayo
Dosunmu
While Vucevic and Giddey set the
tone, the Bulls’ most exciting storyline might be the emergence of
Matas Buzelis.
The hometown kid – born in
Chicago and drafted by his city – is coming into his own. Buzelis
has been given the green light to learn, make mistakes, and grow, a
luxury few rookies receive in a major market. His length, shooting
touch, and versatility have made him a seamless fit in Donovan’s
system, and his elite athleticism and rim pressure allows him to
have a consistent scoring bag.
For a franchise that’s long
searched for its next cornerstone, Buzelis represents hope – the
possibility of a homegrown star who could one day carry the torch
for the next great Bulls era.
Speaking of hometown pride, Ayo
Dosunmu continues to be one of Chicago’s unsung heroes.
Dosunmu, another Illinois
native, has blossomed into one of the league’s best 3-and-D guards.
But this season, Donovan has asked for more – and Dosunmu has
delivered. He’s taking on bigger offensive responsibilities while
still anchoring the perimeter defense. His energy, versatility, and
unselfishness epitomize the Bulls’ identity: no ego, just
effort.
Depth, Balance, and Belief
Even with Coby White sidelined,
the Bulls’ depth has been a revelation. Role players like Isaac
Okoro, Tre Jones, Patrick Williams, Kevin Huerter, and Jalen Smith
have each embraced their roles with clarity and
confidence.
Okoro brings defensive tenacity.
Jones provides steadiness at the point. Williams has settled into a
reliable two-way rhythm. Huerter adds spacing and shooting, while
Smith has given valuable minutes as a stretch big. None of them are
stars – but together, they’ve formed a cohesive, balanced rotation
that works alongside their core.
– – –
The city of Chicago has been
waiting for a team to believe in again. Since the days of Derrick
Rose’s MVP run and Jimmy Butler’s hope, the Bulls have cycled
through rebuilds, retools, and false starts – flashes of potential
that never quite materialized.
But this group is a fresh start.
This team, defined by their collective purpose, embodies the city’s
blue-collar spirit. They may not have a global superstar yet, but
they have something that’s been missing for far too long:
chemistry, identity, and belief.
Chicago knows greatness when it
sees it. After all, it’s the home of Michael Jordan – the standard
by which all Bulls teams are measured. But even if this group isn’t
chasing banners just yet, they’re chasing something just as
important: respect, relevance, and revival.
For the first time in years,
Bulls basketball matters again. And it’s not because of who’s
scoring the most points – it’s because they’re doing it
together.
