Eastern Conference · Central
ESPN standings data retrieved October 6, 2026. NBA comparisons use the completed 2025–26 regular season. Each upcoming fixture labels preseason or regular-season status.
Chicago Bulls2025–26 regular season
| Measure | Season average | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| STANDARD STATS | ||
| Points / game | 116.3 | 12 / 30 |
| Rebounds / game | 45.0 | 9 / 30 |
| Assists / game | 28.5 | 7 / 30 |
| Turnovers / game | 14.6 | 24 / 30 |
| Steals / game | 7.6 | 23 / 30 |
| Blocks / game | 5.0 | 11 / 30 |
| FG% | 46.9% | 14 / 30 |
| 3PT% | 35.6% | 19 / 30 |
| FT% | 77.6% | 18 / 30 |
| THE LAB MEASURES | ||
| eFG% | 54.7% | 14 / 30 |
| Turnover rate | 12.7% | 23 / 30 |
| Offensive rebound rate | — | — |
| Free-throw pressure | 0.246 | 22 / 30 |
ESPN team totals and game box scores checked October 6. NBA season averages and ranks use 2025–26; preseason game results are shown separately. Ranks are within the league, with ties sharing a rank; a lower turnover rate is better. Season offensive rebound rate needs opponent defensive-rebound totals, which this feed does not supply. A dash means unavailable. This game’s offensive rebound rate uses the opponent’s actual rebounds.
eFG% gives a made three its extra value. Turnover rate estimates the share of plays lost before a shot. Offensive rebound rate is the share of available offensive rebounds collected. Free-throw pressure is FTA/FGA. The calculations are (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM)/FGA; TOV/(FGA + 0.44 × FTA + TOV); OREB/(OREB + opponent DREB); and FTA/FGA.
ESPN’s 2025-26 standings snapshot, checked October 6, puts Chicago Bulls at 31-51. That profile contains 116.3 points scored and 121.5 conceded per game, a -5.2 average margin. The scoring average is 12 of 30 in this league snapshot. The negative margin makes the record a starting question. The team needs to show how it can produce more useful possessions than it allows. These are completed 2025–26 totals; 2026–27 preseason results are kept separate.
The next scheduled test is 
Phoenix Suns on 2026-10-07. Our test is possession quality. Compare effective shooting, turnover rate, offensive rebounding and free-throw pressure; preseason rotation changes can distort all four. Look for repeated advantages through different lineup combinations before carrying a final margin into a regular-season forecast.
Article cutoff 2026-10-03
Last season 31-51 | 12th in the East | Missed postseason
2025-26 efficiency 112.1 offense | 117.4 defense | -5.3 net per 100 possessions
Chicago finished 12th at 31-51 and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Its minus-5.3 net rating reflected a roster short of both efficiency and extra possessions. The Bulls averaged 3.6 fewer shot opportunities than opponents, with weak offensive rebounding and limited ability to force turnovers making the scoring assignment harder.
Bryson Graham took over the front office and hired Tiago Splitter. Caleb Wilson, the fourth pick, joins Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey as the young foundation. Nic Claxton gives Chicago a more credible interior defender, and Norman Powell supplies experienced scoring. The late acquisition of Buddy Hield adds shooting after Rob Dillingham moved out.
The unfinished issue is producing enough advantages around those players. Claxton can improve the defense without fixing loose possessions or creating perimeter pressure on his own. Powell can score without guaranteeing the young players get better attempts. Graham has made the rebuild more legible, but the roster still needs a sustainable shot-creation structure and a better way to win the possession count. Wilson's development should be supported by that structure rather than treated as its substitute.
Projected finish is 13th in the East. The added size and a clearer development plan should make Chicago more functional, but we do not see enough two-way improvement for a Play-In forecast. The important progress would be better chances for Wilson and Buzelis, fewer wasted possessions and evidence that the defense can hold together with the main offensive players on the court.
| Date / time | Sport | Matchup | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Phoenix Suns @ Chicago BullsStats & matchup analysis → | Preseason |
| 2026-10-09 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Memphis Grizzlies @ Chicago BullsStats & matchup analysis → | Preseason |
| 2026-10-11 8:00 PM CT | NBA | Chicago Bulls @ Denver NuggetsStats & matchup analysis → | Preseason |
| 2026-10-14 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee BucksStats & matchup analysis → | Preseason |
| 2026-10-16 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Minnesota Timberwolves @ Chicago BullsStats & matchup analysis → | Preseason |
| 2026-10-21 6:30 PM CT | NBA | Chicago Bulls @ Toronto RaptorsStats & matchup analysis → | Regular season |
| 2026-10-23 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee BucksStats & matchup analysis → | Regular season |
| 2026-10-24 7:00 PM CT | NBA | Washington Wizards @ Chicago BullsStats & matchup analysis → | Regular season |
| 2026-10-26 6:30 PM CT | NBA | Chicago Bulls @ Boston CelticsStats & matchup analysis → | Regular season |
A matching published game video is not available in the verified archive yet.
