After opening the 2025-2026 NBA season with a 6-1 record, the Chicago Bulls appear to be falling back to earth. This team came in shocking to Bulls fans, who didn’t expect much from this team, which came in off a 39-43 season the previous year and barely qualifying as a play-in team. The expectations were set very low on this team, and yet they opened the season proving everyone wrong. For years now the Bulls have been the definition of mediocre, too bad to be considered a contending team but too good to be considered a lottery team. Team owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s Bulls have been stuck in basketball purgatory for the past decade. Through these years, however, a few key player acquisitions through drafting and trading has fans finally seeing this team take shape.
They started off the season 5-0 before losing the second game of a home-and-home two-game series against the Knicks which saw All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, rack up 31 points. Even so, a look at the Bulls’ competition through the first six games shows they weren’t exactly taking advantage of the league’s punching bags.
The teams they played on their 5 game winning streak started off with a win against the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are a top team in the east with a good young core that could compete for a championship. They faced off against the Orlando Magic that have been quite disappointing a roster with high expectations this season but are struggling to figure it out. Another win against the Atlanta Hawks that have a decent team around Trae Young that recently traded for Porzingis over the summer. Then they beat against the Sacramento Kings a bad team with not the best roster. Then they faced of the Knicks that are on of the better on paper teams of the East and had a good run last year coming in this season with more chemistry. The Bulls have faced off against a mixture of good and very bad teams during that undefeated 5-0 streak/start of the season.
This surprising Bulls squad is led by Josh Giddey, 23, a 6’7″ guard from Australia who’s averaging 21.4 points and 9.3 assists per game – the team leader in both categories. But Giddey isn’t doing it alone: 21-year-old former Hinsdale Central standout Matas Buzelis appears to be emerging as a future star who – despite occasional growing pains – is raising eyebrows with his fluid movement, offensive vision, and scoring.
Giddey’s contributions must be especially satisfying for Bulls General Manager Arturas Karnasovas, who dealt popular lockdown defender Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for Giddey, who was still an unproven commodity at the time of the trade in June 2024. The move has paid dividends: Giddey has also been dropping many triple-double games being 3rd in Bulls franchise history in triple doubles just behind Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Josh Giddey has played a huge factor on this run being able to set up his teammates and create for himself as well.
The Bulls are playing like this without a key player Coby White. He is a major part of the Bulls team, but some critics are asking what will happen when he returns from injury. Most Bulls fans believe White is a very unselfish player that will make the right choice, whether it is passing to a teammate or getting a bucket if needed. He will only elevate this team and add on to this culture that is being built in the Bulls organization.
And the anticipation over White’s return has only grown: the Bulls’ hot start has cooled during a three-game losing streak since a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Losses to the Bucks and Cavs – coupled with a heartbreaking 121-117 loss to the Spurs on a game-sealing 3-pointer by Victor Wembanyama on Nov. 10 – has fans hoping White’s return will inject some veteran confidence into this young Chicago squad.
Is this the Bulls fall from grace? Is it a bump in the road for a team on the rise? Or, are the Bulls destined for another anonymous finish in the middle of the pack of average NBA teams? One thing is certain: with 72 more games to play, the season has started in exciting fashion.
