As it turns out, Jordan\u2019s fireside chats with Mike Tirico will have to suffice for Bulls\u2019 content on the network, which has not included any Bulls games on its 2025-26 schedule. The Bulls currently have only three games carried nationally, at Orlando on Dec. 1 on Peacock, at Brooklyn on Jan. 16 on ESPN, and at Toronto on Feb. 5 on Amazon Prime.<\/p>\n
It makes sense.<\/p>\n
As the Bulls began their season Wednesday night at the United Center against the Detroit Pistons, expectations were lower than even last year, when no one gave them a chance to make the playoffs and trading Zach LaVine was their main priority.<\/p>\n
Executive vice president of basketball operations Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas managed to get that done,<\/a> starting the rebuild that brings us to this point. \u201cAK: Insights to Mediocrity\u201d won\u2019t be playing on a network near you, but it perfectly sums up the path of the Bulls under their top executive, who was rewarded with a contract extension<\/a> in the offseason.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t cry for the Bulls. Fans will still fill the United Center more often than not, and not just for Benny the Bull\u2019s popcorn-spilling antics. And they ranked fifth in NBA merchandise sales last season behind the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks in spite of their recent woes.<\/p>\n The Bulls\u2019 brand remains strong some 27 years after the end of the Jordan-led dynasty, no matter how much they fail on the court. Perhaps Tirico can ask Jordan in a future segment why Bulls fans remain loyal to a team that never goes all-in.<\/p>\n But Bulls fans should have a glimmer of hope in 2025-26. Not because the team will be significantly better than last year\u2019s 39-43 record, but because the rest of the Eastern Conference should be significantly worse<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Pistons made the playoffs as the No. 6 seed last year with 44 wins, and that\u2019s a goal the Bulls could reach with some improvement from their core \u2014 Coby White, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis \u2014 and some regression from the other would-be contenders.<\/p>\n They\u2019re already better than the three lottery contenders, the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets, and on the same level as the underachieving Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors.<\/p>\n The Boston Celtics have all but given up on the season after losing Jayson Tatum to an Achilles injury, and the Miami Heat are no threat in their first full season without Jimmy Butler. The Indiana Pacers undoubtedly will come back to earth without Tyrese Haliburton, who is also out for the year with an Achilles tear. The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks will tease fans with the promise of taking a step forward, before succumbing to their norm, finishing a little over or under .500 and in the play-in round.<\/p>\n That leaves only the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Pistons as good bets to make the playoffs out of the East.<\/p>\n So where do the Bulls get those extra five wins to reach the magic number of 44?<\/p>\n Playing better against its divisional foes is a start. They went 4-12 against their Central rivals, including 0-4 against the Cavs and 1-3 against both the Pistons and Pacers.<\/p>\n Using the home court to their advantage would be another attainable goal. The Bulls went 18-23 at the United Center last year while finishing 21-20 on the road. With packed houses and a fast-paced offense that creates fan energy when it\u2019s working on all cylinders, there\u2019s no excuse for the Bulls having a sub-.500 record at home.<\/p>\n And finally, they need someone to develop the clutch gene that DeMar DeRozan had, whether it\u2019s White, Giddey or Buzelis. LaVine was never that guy,<\/a> and it\u2019s no coincidence the team played much better after he was traded to Sacramento.<\/p>\n Is that asking for too much?<\/p>\n The key might be Buzelis, and coach Billy Donovan\u2019s pregame press briefing on Wednesday featured almost nonstop questions about the second-year wing. If expectations for the Bulls are muted, they\u2019re supercharged for Buzelis, who was given a short leash by Donovan at the start of 2024-25 but blossomed with added minutes following the LaVine trade.<\/p>\n![\"Detroit](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-bulls-pistons-1022-22.jpg\")
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham fouls Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey during the first quarter of the home opener at the United Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Flames](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/CTC-L-bulls-pistons-1022-38.jpg\")
Flames shoot above the court during player introductions before the Chicago Bulls play the Detroit Pistons in the home opener at the United Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n