Why the Bulls are officially back and going to the NBA playoffs

ByNBAUSA



For nearly a decade, Chicago Bulls they existed in a state of limbo, good enough to compete but never good enough to really matter. The tag “play purgatory” stuck to them like an unwanted nickname. But this season something is different. Four games into the 2025-26 NBA campaign, the Bulls are undefeated for the first time since 2011, the last time Derrick Rose led them to the top of the East.

And while it’s too early to crown a new candidate, the energy in Chicago is undeniable. Billy DonovanThe team defends with intent, shares the basketball with purpose and displays the kind of chemistry that championship-level teams tend to develop long before the rest of the league notices.

For a franchise desperate for direction, these The Bulls are finally playing like they’ve found theirsand it all starts with Josh Giddei.

Josh Giddei is the engine that drives Chicago

When the Bulls made a bold offseason move to sign free agent Josh Giddy to a four-year, $150 million contract, the reaction was mixed. Why spend big money on a player who isn’t committed to a team in free agency? Why commit to someone whose recording was still developing?

Now, those questions seem ridiculous.

Giddei was nothing short of spectacular until the first week of the season. In the Bulls’ 126-113 win over the Sacramento Kings, their most dominant win to date, Giddy controlled the game from start to finish, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds before checking out with four minutes left.

His season average is 19.5 points8.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists on 43% from deep is a testament to both his maturity and Donovan’s system finally giving him complete creative control.

The fit was impeccable. Chicago’s offensive identity now revolves around Giddy’s instincts, his ability to push the pace, manipulate the defense and keep everyone involved. Nikola Vucevic has benefited immensely as a pick-and-pop threat, while young star Matas Bouzelis thrives as a cutting, slashing and spot-up weapon.

Their chemistry is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing duos in the league, as the two have already connected on a series of highlight-reel plays that speak to Giddy’s court vision and Bouzelis’ athleticism.

More importantly, Giddy’s leadership has given the Bulls a sense of composure they have lacked for years. There’s a confidence in the way he controls the tempo, the rhythm of his dribble, the patience in his reads and the way he’s not afraid to reset and demand a re-screen if a play breaks down. He not only organizes the property; he orchestrates them.

“He’s a connector,” head coach Billy Donovan said after the win against Sacramento. “He’s the one who puts everybody in their place. He wants to make the right play every time, and when you have that kind of unselfishness from your point guard, it spreads.”

That “expansion” is visible everywhere. The Bulls currently rank third in defensive rating, top 10 in assists and turnovers, and among the league leaders in rebounding. Irony? It was their defense, not Giddy’s offense, that was most impressive.

Why the Bulls will make NBA playoffs

It looks like the Bulls defense could take them far. Thanks to their 4-0 start, Chicago ranks third in the NBA in defensive rating, a turnaround from the top 10 in that category last season. This is no coincidence; it’s a product of continuity, athleticism and buy-in.

Players like Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones set the tone on the perimeter, while Vucevic and Patrick Williams held their own in the paint. Jones’ ability to defend multiple positions has allowed Donovan to shift more aggressively, while Dosunmu’s energy on both ends has quietly made him one of the most underrated guards in the East.

Donovan’s challenge over the past few years was balance, enough shooting without sacrificing size, or enough ball movement without losing defensive integrity. This year, he finally feels like he has both.

And then there are the intangibles: chemistry, culture and cohesion. Donovan recently admitted Give me an example as the team’s young players, especially Matas Bouzelis, would follow.

“The chemistry on the team in terms of their relationships is really good on and off the court,” Donovan told NBA.com’s Sam Smith. “I grew up and played in a time where if you didn’t have a good relationship on the field, you generally didn’t have one off the field. These guys have great relationships.”

That connection is visible in how they celebrate each other’s successes, Gidi punching Buzelis in the chest after a transition dunk, Vucevic dribbling Dosunmu after the game.

There is joy in this team again. More importantly, they have an identity.

For the first time in years, the Bulls know exactly who they are: a long, athletic, defensively tough team that moves the ball, plays for each other and refuses to be outplayed. Their 4-0 record may not guarantee a playoff berth in October, but it is proof of a foundation that can sustain winning basketball.

If they stay healthy and continue to defend at this level, there’s every reason to believe the Bulls can not only escape playoff purgatory, but also secure a top-six seed in the East.

And this time, it’s not hype. That’s real basketball.





2025-10-30 16:35:00

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