The Bulls Have the Chance to be Bull-ivable Contenders

The Philadelphia 76ers’ VJ Edgecombe loses the ball on a layup attempt as the Chicago Bulls’ Jalen Smith (25) and Dalen Terry, right, apply pressure in the second half at the United Center on Nov. 4, 2025, in Chicago. (PC: Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The NBA season is almost a month underway, and the Chicago Bulls are looking to break out of their seemingly chronic mediocrity this season and make a legitimate push for the playoffs.

Up until this week, it seemed like they were well on their way to doing just that after starting their season 5-0, their best start to a season since 1996-97.

However, the Bulls have gone through an extremely tough stretch recently, losing 4 straight games and injuries to key players such as Coby White and Josh Giddey.

Their loss 121-117 to the San Antonio Spurs, dropped them to 6-4 on the season, and again to the Detroit Pistons 124-113 pushed them further down to 6-5.

In the Spurs game, the defense couldn’t limit their 3-point shooting, along with their 2 best scorers being out. And the Spurs’ young star Victor Wembanyama drew so much defensive attention that the Bulls’ rotations fell apart.

This recent stretch begs the question, are the Bulls really contenders this season? Or is it just another façade of mediocrity like usual? Elmhurst student and avid Chicago sports fan Malcolm Mason believes the Bulls are a playoff contender.

Mason says, “as far as contending for a chip, they probably aren’t there yet. But the way they’ve competed with the Cavs and Bucks, I think they are legit.”

Chicago has shown flashes of being a top tier team, especially when their defense clicks.

The next few weeks could be pivotal in determining the Bulls’ trajectory. Their upcoming schedule includes matchups against the Nuggets and Trailblazers: both teams will test their depth and discipline.

If Chicago can weather this stretch, especially without White and Giddey, it would be a sign that the early 5-0 start wasn’t a fluke. On the other hand, another losing streak could spark familiar questions about whether this roster, as currently constructed, has already peaked.

But the NBA isn’t played on paper. Consistency has been the Bulls’ Achilles heel for years. Since the “Lonzo Ball injury era” began in 2022, the team has struggled to find an identity.

When Ball was healthy, Chicago looked like one of the league’s most cohesive units: fast, unselfish, and tough defensively. Without him, the Bulls often looked disjointed, alternating between flashes of brilliance and stretches of stagnant, iso-heavy basketball.

Ultimately, the Bulls’ season may come down to health, defense, and whether their stars can elevate their game when it matters most. Head coach Billy Donovan has emphasized accountability and defensive effort, but those principles have yet to translate into consistent execution on the court.

The talent is there, what’s missing is the consistency and killer instinct that separates good teams from true contenders.

For a franchise that’s been chasing relevance since the early days of Derrick Rose, every stretch of games feels magnified. I don’t think the 5-0 start was a fluke. It was a glimpse of what this roster can achieve when everyone is healthy, engaged, and trusting the process.