The Chicago Bulls are just 68 days away from opening their 2025-26 NBA season, which begins on October 22 at the United Center against a Detroit Pistons team that has made significant strides. The Pistons recently returned to the playoffs for the first time in six years, led by rising star Cade Cunningham and supported by promising young talents like Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, Ron Holland, and Jaden Ivey. This first game presents a strong early challenge for the Bulls as they aim to build momentum against an improving divisional rival.
Early Schedule Tests Bulls’ Resilience and Potential
The Bulls’ initial matchups will be intensely scrutinized as they look to prove their progress from last season. Early competition includes tough contests against Sacramento and Philadelphia, with the latter featuring the possibility of facing dominant center Joel Embiid. Although some opponents may offer slightly easier competition, the Bulls could still face a daunting start and risk falling to a 2-9 record in their first 11 games. However, the schedule’s difficulty is expected to ease after mid-November, which will provide better opportunities for the young roster to find its rhythm.
Maintaining a near .500 record by November 12 would be a clear indication of sustained growth and should raise optimism among fans and analysts alike. Such performance would signal continued strong development from players like Josh Giddey and Coby White, who have been praised as the backcourt’s future core, along with promising sophomore Matas Buzelis showing key progress early in his career.
Home Court Emphasis and Strategic Scheduling Could Boost Bulls
General Manager Arturas Karnisovas has underscored the importance of reclaiming a strong home–court advantage, and the schedule aligns well with this goal. The Bulls will host four of their first five games at the United Center, and December features a notable stretch with six consecutive home games between December 2 and January 3, 2026. Overall, 10 of the 13 games during this period will be played at home, a generous arrangement that might also include additional matches for the NBA Cup.
February also promises a lengthy homestand with seven straight home games, presenting numerous chances for the Bulls to build confidence and momentum in front of their fans.
Favorable Scheduling Amid Minimal Back-to-Back Games and Rest Disadvantages
Another scheduling advantage lies in the Bulls playing only 13 back-to-back games, tied for the lowest in the league alongside Atlanta, Boston, Indiana, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City. The league average is higher, with some teams facing up to 16 back-to-backs, which highlights the relative ease of Chicago’s travel burdens. Additionally, the Bulls share with Cleveland and Milwaukee the league’s lowest number of rest disadvantages, meaning they rarely enter games with fewer rest days than their opponents. This aspect will certainly please head coach Billy Donovan and the team‘s medical staff, as it supports player recovery and performance over the grueling season.
Matas Buzelis Sees Significant Rise in NBA Draft Re-Evaluation
Bulls fans have more reason for hope with fresh evaluations of Matas Buzelis’s potential. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie issued a 2024 NBA Draft re-draft that elevated Buzelis from the No. 11 to the No. 6 overall pick, surpassing notable prospects such as Alex Sarr, Ron Holland, Zach Edey, and Cody Williams.
Vecenie acknowledged some skepticism regarding Buzelis’s half-court shot-creation, citing concerns about his physical leverage and strength, but affirmed confidence in his overall ability. He praised Buzelis as
“likely a solid starting caliber wing because of his size, athleticism in the open court and shooting ability,”
underscoring the player’s value as he embarks on his second NBA season.
“I’m not quite as high as some on his upside, as I’m skeptical of his half-court shot-creation ability because of his high hips and inability to gain leverage with his lack of strength. But I buy Buzelis as likely a solid starting caliber wing because of his size, athleticism in the open court and shooting ability,”
—Sam Vecenie, NBA Draft Analyst
Outlook: A Season of Growth Hinges on Early Results and Player Development
The Chicago Bulls enter the 2025-26 season at a critical juncture, facing a testing schedule that will rapidly reveal the true competitiveness of their young roster. Success during the difficult first weeks could set the tone for a season marked by growth and increased confidence, while early struggles might dampen morale despite a lighter schedule later on. The rising profile of Matas Buzelis and continued development of key players like Josh Giddey and Coby White will play pivotal roles.
With organized efforts to capitalize on home advantages and a manageable travel load, the Bulls have structured an environment conducive to progress. How this team navigates its opening challenges will likely shape its trajectory for the entire NBA campaign and determine how quickly Chicago can re-establish itself as a contender in a competitive Central Division.