<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-officially-back-will-make-nba-playoffs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why the Bulls are officially back and will make NBA Playoffs');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why the Bulls are officially back and will make NBA Playoffs</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-30T09:35:02-07:00">October 30th, 9:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-30T09:35:02-07:00">October 30th, 9:35am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For nearly a decade, the Chicago Bulls have existed in a state of limbo, good enough to compete but never good enough to truly matter. The “play-in purgatory” label has clung to them like an unwanted nickname. But this season, something feels 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.</p><p>And while it’s far too early to crown a new contender, the energy in Chicago is undeniable. Billy Donovan’s squad is defending with intent, sharing the basketball with purpose, and showing the kind of chemistry that championship-level teams tend to develop long before the rest of the league notices.</p><p>For a franchise desperate for direction, these <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/1-overreaction-all-30-nba-teams-first-week-of-2025-26-season">Bulls are finally playing like they’ve found theirs</a>, and it all begins with Josh Giddey.</p><h2><b>Josh Giddey is the engine that makes Chicago go</b></h2><p>When the Bulls made the bold offseason move to sign free agent Josh Giddey to a four-year, $150 million deal, the reaction was mixed. Why spend big money on a player who is not committing to the team in free agency? Why commit to someone whose shooting was still developing?</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">RT IF YOUR TEAM IS 4-0. <a href="https://t.co/GQdToi0YjC">pic.twitter.com/GQdToi0YjC</a></p><p>— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1983720690055291294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Now, those questions look laughable.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-admits-weird-feeling-on-thunders-nba-championship">Giddey has been nothing short of spectacular</a> through the first week of the season. In the Bulls’ 126-113 win over the Sacramento Kings, their most dominant victory yet, Giddey controlled the game from start to finish, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds before checking out with four minutes remaining.</p><p>His season averages of <a href="https://www.espn.in/nba/team/stats/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls" rel="noopener">19.5 points</a>, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 43% from deep are a testament to both his maturity and Donovan’s system finally giving him full creative control.</p><p>The fit has been seamless. Chicago’s offensive identity now revolves around Giddey’s instincts, his ability to push the pace, manipulate defenses, and keep everyone involved. Nikola Vučević has benefited immensely as a pick-and-pop threat, while young star Matas Buzelis is thriving as a slashing, cutting, and spot-up weapon.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Josh Giddey has been worth EVERY penny 💰 <a href="https://t.co/1EjgphRDuA">pic.twitter.com/1EjgphRDuA</a></p><p>— Just Another Year Chicago: Bulls (@JAYChi_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/JAYChi_Bulls/status/1982996479657873901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Their chemistry is quickly becoming one of the league’s most intriguing duos, as the two have already connected on a series of highlight-reel plays that speak to Giddey’s court vision and Buzelis’ athletic flair.</p><p>More importantly, Giddey’s leadership has given the Bulls a sense of calm they’ve lacked for years. There’s a confidence in how he controls tempo, the rhythm of his dribble, the patience in his reads, and the way he’s unafraid to reset and call for a re-screen if a play collapses. He’s not just organizing possessions; he’s orchestrating them.</p><p>“He’s the connector,” said head coach Billy Donovan after the win against Sacramento. “He’s the one who gets everyone in their spots. He wants to make the right play every time, and when you have that kind of selflessness from your point guard, it spreads.”</p><p>That “spread” is visible everywhere. The Bulls currently rank third in defensive rating, top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio, and among the league’s leaders in rebounding. The irony? It’s their defense, not Giddey’s offense, that’s been most impressive.</p><h2><b>Why the Bulls will make the NBA Playoffs</b></h2><p>The Bulls’ defense looks like it could take them far. Through their 4-0 start, Chicago ranks third in the NBA in defensive rating, a carryover from finishing top-10 in that category last season. This isn’t a fluke; it’s the product of continuity, athleticism, and buy-in.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-hall-of-famer">Players like Ayo Dosunmu</a> and Tre Jones have set the tone on the perimeter, while Vučević and Patrick Williams are holding their own in the paint. Jones’ ability to defend multiple positions has allowed Donovan to switch more aggressively, while Dosunmu’s energy on both ends has quietly made him one of the most underrated guards in the East.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-billy-donovan-3-0-start">Donovan’s challenge over the past few years</a> has been balance, getting enough shooting without sacrificing size, or enough ball movement without losing defensive integrity. This year, it finally feels like he has both.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Year 2 Matas Buzelis 👀</p><p>27 points | 11-18 FG | 5 rebounds | 2 steals <a href="https://t.co/rQ2YvaGNNR">pic.twitter.com/rQ2YvaGNNR</a></p><p>— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1983739392331059602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>And then there’s the intangibles: chemistry, culture, and cohesion. Donovan recently credited <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-ayo-dosunmu-sixth-man-of-the-year-race">Dosunmu as an example</a> for the team’s young players, particularly Matas Buzelis, to follow.</p><p>“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 when if you didn’t have a good relationship on the court, you generally didn’t have one off the court. These guys have great relationships.”</p><p>That bond is visible in how they celebrate each other’s successes, Giddey chest-bumping Buzelis after a transition dunk, Vučević dapping up Dosunmu after a hustle play.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-editorials/bulls-bench-secreat-weapon-2025-2026">There’s joy in this team again</a>. More importantly, they have an identity.</p><p>For the first time in years, the Bulls know exactly who they are: a long, athletic, defensively sound team that moves the ball, plays for each other, and refuses to be outworked. Their 4-0 record might not guarantee a playoff berth in October, but it’s evidence of a foundation that can sustain winning basketball.</p><p>If they stay healthy and continue to defend at this level, there’s every reason to believe the Bulls can not only break out of play-in purgatory but secure a top-six seed in the East.</p><p>And this time, it’s not hype. It’s real basketball.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why the Bulls are officially back and will make NBA Playoffs

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-most-improved-player-declaration');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Matas Buzelis’ Most Improved Player declaration isn’t looking so far-fetched');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Oct-29-2025-Chicago-Illinois-USA-Chicago-Bulls-forward-Matas-Buzelis-14-shoots-against-the-Sacramento-Kings-during-the-first-half-at-United-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Matas Buzelis’ Most Improved Player declaration isn’t looking so far-fetched</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-30T08:26:51-07:00">October 30th, 8:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-30T08:26:51-07:00">October 30th, 8:26am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During Media Day in September, the Chicago Bulls’ second-year guard Matas Buzelis said he <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-most-improved-player-goal">wanted to go for</a> the NBA’s Most Improved Player honors. After the first four games of the season, he is showing considerable promise.</p><p>So far, Buzelis is averaging 16.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Additionally, he is shooting 51% from the field. Plus, he became the youngest player in franchise history to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-feat-michael-jordan">score 20+ points in a season opener</a>.</p><p>He scored 21 points against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 22.</p><p>On Wednesday, Buzelis scored a high of 27 points, grabbed five rebounds, and shot 11-for-18 from the field against the Sacramento Kings.</p><p>In the process, the Bulls came out on top 126-113 to start the season 4-0.</p><p>Altogether, Buzelis exudes a brash confidence. He doesn’t want to settle and has ambitions to achieve big goals. As a result, Buzelis <a href="https://pippenainteasy.com/matas-buzelis-has-taken-leap-that-bulls-fans-have-been-waiting-for" rel="noopener">has expanded his game</a>, and the results prove that so far, per Austin McGee of Pippen Ain’t Easy.</p><p>Specifically, Buzelis is excelling in free throw, field goal, and three-point attempts. Furthermore, he is growing in confidence when driving to the basket and taking pull-up jumpers.</p><p>When the season commenced, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan openly cautioned Buzelis about getting too far ahead of himself.</p><p>“He has not arrived,” Donovan said. “He just hasn’t. And that’s just the truth. And I love Matas and think he’s got an unbelievable runway to be an outstanding player in this league if he keeps his drive and his motivation and doesn’t think he’s arrived.”</p><p>On Friday, the Bulls are looking to start 5-0 as they take on the New York Knicks.</p><h2><b>If he keeps it up, Matas Buzelis could very well contend for Most Improved Player honors</b></h2><p>Last year, Buzelis averaged of 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. Additionally, he had a field goal percentage of 45.4% and a three-point percentage of 36.1%. He averaged 18.9 minutes per game and played 80 games.</p><p>This year, Buzelis is stepping up to a greater role as a starter. As a result, he is playing much more and is so far averaging 28.0 minutes per game. Furthermore, Buzelis’ increased playing time is partly due to the absence of Coby White <a href="http://google.com/search?q=clutchpoints+coby+white+calf+injury&amp;rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS799US799&amp;oq=clutchpoints+coby+whit&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCECMYJzIGCAAQRRg5MggIARBFGCcYOzIGCAIQIxgnMgYIAxBFGDsyBwgEEAAY7wUyBggFEEUYPDIGCAYQRRg8MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgzODYzajBqN6gCALACAA&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">due to a calf injury</a>.</p><p>If he can continue to increase his numbers, put up the minutes, and maintain his winning attitude, he could very well contend for that honor, if not win it.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Matas Buzelis’ Most Improved Player declaration isn’t looking so far-fetched

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-admits-weird-feeling-on-thunders-nba-championship');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls’ Josh Giddey admits ‘weird feeling’ on Thunder’s NBA championship');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bulls-Josh-Giddey-defends-Thunders-Shai-Gilgeous-Alexander.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bulls’ Josh Giddey admits ‘weird feeling’ on Thunder’s NBA championship</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-29T19:58:24-07:00">October 29th, 7:58pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-29T19:58:24-07:00">October 29th, 7:58pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, the Oklahoma City Thunder made two crucial moves that enabled their leap from good to great team. They acquired Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency to patch up their rebounding woes, and then in a bit of a surprise, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-josh-giddey-reveals-true-feelings-success">they traded away Josh Giddey</a>, a member of their prized young core, to the Chicago Bulls in a straight-up deal for Alex Caruso.</p><p>Suffice to say, those moves worked out wonderfully for the Thunder. They won the NBA title, with Caruso and Hartenstein being instrumental in that playoff run of theirs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-alex-caruso-defense-on-nikola-jokic">Caruso, in particular, was defending everyone</a> from Nikola Jokic to Tyrese Haliburton. But one has to feel for Giddey — he toiled away on a bad Thunder squad to begin the 2020s, only for him to be the first casualty in OKC’s bid to win a title.</p><p>Prior to the Bulls’ 126-113 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, Giddey <a href="https://twitter.com/CAlmanza1007/status/1983623296005673219" rel="noopener">admitted that he feels</a> a bit “weird” seeing the Thunder hoist the title considering how fast everything developed.</p><p>“It was a weird feeling because I was with them a year ago. I’m very close to all the guys still. To see that was a weird feeling. Obviously, there’s zero bad blood there. So I was very very happy,” Giddey told Malika Andrews on ESPN’s NBA Today.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Josh Giddey on the Thunder’s NBA championship:</p><p>“It was a weird feeling because I was with them a year ago. I'm very close to all the guys still. To see that was a weird feeling. Obviously, there's zero bad blood there. So I was very happy.”<br> <a href="https://t.co/UN5lmyG7CL">pic.twitter.com/UN5lmyG7CL</a></p><p>— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) <a href="https://twitter.com/CAlmanza1007/status/1983623296005673219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Giddey’s focus will solely be on the Bulls from here on out. But this doesn’t mean that he’s not rooting for the Thunder any longer. Giddey spent the first three seasons of his career in OKC and developed into an impressive playmaker and stat-sheet stuffer.</p><p>At the very least, Giddey will have all the opportunity in the world to blossom into an All-Star with the Bulls, as he’s their primary playmaker and lead ballhandler.</p><h2><b>Josh Giddey’s trade from Thunder to Bulls: for the best for both parties</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Bulls-guard-Josh-Giddey-3-runs-down-the-court-1.jpg"><figcaption>© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Towards the end of Giddey’s Thunder tenure, he was already being marginalized in the offense. He was playing worse basketball than ever before in the NBA, and it did not help whatsoever that he was going through some off-court issues at the time.</p><p>With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being entrusted with primary ballhandling duties, the Thunder decided to trade Giddey away for a better fit in Caruso. This worked out for them, if an NBA championship is any indication. But Giddey is now free to continue on his star trajectory with the Bulls. This is the kind of trade where every party involved seemed to win, although Giddey did lose out on winning a title, so there’s that.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls’ Josh Giddey admits ‘weird feeling’ on Thunder’s NBA championship

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-watch-chicagos-touching-tribute-video-to-zach-lavine');   ga('set', 'title', 'Watch Bulls’ touching tribute video to Zach LaVine');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Kings-guard-Zach-LaVine-8-shoots-against-Bulls.jpg"><figcaption>© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Watch Bulls’ touching tribute video to Zach LaVine</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-29T19:02:55-07:00">October 29th, 7:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-29T19:02:55-07:00">October 29th, 7:02pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For years, Zach LaVine toiled away on a Chicago Bulls team that wasn’t quite sure where it was going. The Bulls then made the playoffs during the 2021-22 season, which was an encouraging sign, but they proceeded to miss the playoffs for the next few years, necessitating some major changes to the roster. Last season, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/one-player-bulls-kings-zach-lavine-trade">Bulls decided to take another step</a> towards a full-blown commitment to the youth movement when they traded Zach LaVine away to the Sacramento Kings.</p><p>On Wednesday night, LaVine returned to United Center for the first time since being traded by the Bulls in February. He spent seven and a half seasons in Chicago, and even though the team wasn’t very successful during that time, he was still their best player during that stretch and at least gave the Bulls some semblance of respectability.</p><p>In turn, the Bulls paid tribute to LaVine in the form of a video package highlighting some of <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1983691540452274431" rel="noopener">his biggest moments</a> with the team during his lengthy stay in the Windy City.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Bulls' video tribute to Zach LaVine 🙌</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chicagobulls</a>)<a href="https://t.co/p62SKXhxAd">pic.twitter.com/p62SKXhxAd</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1983691540452274431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This is not the first time that LaVine has faced the Bulls as a member of the Kings. He did come up against them back on the 20th of March, a game that the Kings lost rather convincingly, 128-116. LaVine struggled mightily during that contest, scoring just eight points on 2-9 shooting as he took a backseat during that night to Malik Monk and another former Bull in DeMar DeRozan.</p><p>LaVine played in 416 games for the Bulls, starting in 413 of them. He averaged 24.2 points per game during his seven and a half-year stint with the team, doing so on 47/39/83 shooting splits. He made the All-Star team twice with Chicago.</p><p>The Bulls acquired Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, and their 2025 first-round pick (which was top-10 protected in the first place) in the LaVine trade. All three of those players are still on the roster.</p><h2><b>Bulls better off than Kings after trading Zach LaVine away</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls-guard-Josh-Giddey-dribbles-up-the-court-in-the-second-half-against-the-Orlando-Magic-at-Kia-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There should be no doubts regarding the productivity of LaVine as a scorer. Through the first four games of the season, he’s averaging 29 points per for the Kings. But the Bulls got three solid role players in return for LaVine and his exorbitant contract, and they handed over the reins to Coby White and Josh Giddey in the process. There’s a reason why Chicago ended the 2025-26 campaign on such a high note.</p><p>Meanwhile, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-rumors-russell-westbrook-sacramento-mutual-interest">Kings have a roster that doesn’t make any sense</a>. It is a shame that LaVine could not land on a situation with stability, as he’d be such a dangerous weapon on the right team.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Watch Bulls’ touching tribute video to Zach LaVine

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-billy-donovan-3-0-start');   ga('set', 'title', 'Billy Donovan reveals biggest reason behind stunning 3-0 start');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls-head-coach-Billy-Donovan-reacts-during-the-second-half-at-United-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Billy Donovan reveals biggest reason behind stunning 3-0 start</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-29T15:24:30-07:00">October 29th, 3:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-29T15:24:30-07:00">October 29th, 3:24pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For the first time since 2021, the Chicago Bulls are off to a 3-0 start to the season. On Monday, they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-editorials/bulls-bench-secreat-weapon-2025-2026">came back from 13 points down</a> to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 128-123.</p><p>Now the Bulls will try to go for 4-0 on Wednesday as they take on the Sacramento Kings. In the process, they will welcome back former players Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.</p><p>Meanwhile, a few factors could help explain the Bulls’ hot start. For instance, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-ayo-dosunmu-sixth-man-of-the-year-race">Ayo Dosunmu’s strong start</a> <a href="https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/whats-different-about-these-3-0-bulls-as-they-prepare-to-host-kings" rel="noopener">doesn’t go unnoticed</a> by head coach Billy Donovan, per Sam Smith of NBA.com.</p><p>In a way, Donovan sees Dosunmu as an example for second-year starter Matas Buzelis to follow.</p><p>“The thing about Ayo, and I’ve said this about Matas (Buzelis), but even more so Ayo, he has an incredible internal belief in himself,” commended Donovan. “For him, I always found it interesting… the road for guys to get to this level (when it is a) struggle because they have to have the belief in themselves to overcome things. Ayo wasn’t a first round draft pick. He gets an opportunity the first year, but the second year is kind of down. But he never loses confidence.”</p><p>Furthermore, Donovan recognizes the Bulls’ strong chemistry both on and off the court as a reason for their early success.</p><p>“The chemistry on the team in terms of their relationships is really good on and off the court,” noted Donovan. “I grew up and played in a time “if you didn’t have a good relationship on the court you generally didn’t have a good relationship off the court. These guys have great relationships.”</p><h2><b>How the Bulls gel so well</b></h2><p>For many of the core players, they have played for a considerable amount of time together. Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, and Dosunmu have played with each other for the last three seasons.</p><p>Later on, Buzelis and Josh Giddey came along and have each found a prominent spot on the team. In return, the guys of old have embraced them with open arms.</p><p>Given that there is no obvious superstars on this team, the Bulls have to rely more and more on each other as a group.</p><p>At this point, so far so good.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Billy Donovan reveals biggest reason behind stunning 3-0 start

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-ayo-dosunmu-sixth-man-of-the-year-race');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Ayo Dosunmu is firmly in Sixth Man of the Year race');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Oct-27-2025-Chicago-Illinois-USA-Chicago-Bulls-guard-Ayo-Dosunmu-11-looks-to-pass-the-ball-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks-during-the-first-half-at-United-Center.-Mandatory-Credit-Kamil-Krzaczynski-.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Ayo Dosunmu is firmly in Sixth Man of the Year race</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-29T10:55:46-07:00">October 29th, 10:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-29T10:55:46-07:00">October 29th, 10:55am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A few months ago, it was rumored that the Chicago Bulls <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-rumors-coby-white-ayo-dosunmu-generating-trade-buzz-nba-summer-league">were looking to trade Ayo Dosunmu</a>. However, they are fortunate to have him, especially after coming off <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-ayo-dosunmu-season-ending-shoulder-surgery">season-ending shoulder surgery</a>.</p><p>The Bulls are off to a 3-0 start and Dosunmu is averaging 16.7 points per game. Against the Atlanta Hawks, he scored 21 points and was 4-for-6 from the three-point line as the Bulls won 128-123.</p><p>As a result, discussions are being had about whether Dosunmu <a href="https://x.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1983553364345467206" rel="noopener">is worthy of winning</a> the Sixth Man of the Year Award, per the Chicago Sports Network.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Crazy talk or real talk: Ayo Dosunmu will win Sixth Man of the Year? 👀 <a href="https://t.co/PUAe9tWAge">pic.twitter.com/PUAe9tWAge</a></p><p>— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1983553364345467206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>What the Bulls’ Media had to say</b></h2><p>The hosts Ruthie Polinsky, David Haugh, and Gabe Ramirez offered differing opinions on this in their “Crazy Talk or Real Talk” segment.</p><p>Ramirez referred to it as ‘Crazy Talk”.</p><p>“I love Ayo Dosunumu, I love what he’s done for the Bulls so far at the beginning of the year without Coby White,” he said. “But you got to beat some of the guys in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. Naz Reid with the Minnesota Timberwolves. You could talk about Anfernee Simons of the Boston Celtics. Then of course, Ty Jerome, who’s in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year last year with the Cleveland Cavaliars.”</p><p>Meanwhile, Polinsky was adament in saying “this is Real Talk.”</p><p>“Ayo Dosunmu off to an incredible start,” she said. “His celing is limitless to me just based off these first three games. I know everyone wants to pull it back a little bit in these first three games, why? Why are we pulling it back?</p><p>“He’s much better and improved shooting the three,” Haugh said. “Obviously last night you saw some of that and you are gonna see that continue. I don’t want to say it’s crazy, but here’s what gives me hesitation. I’m not convince he’s going to be coming off the bench all year. If he’s starting more than half the games, I don’t think you can win Sixth Man of the Year.”</p><p>In the season opener, Dosunmu scored 14 points and had 5 rebounds in a 115-111 win over the Detroit Pistons. Against the Orlando Magic, he scored 15 points and had two rebounds.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Ayo Dosunmu is firmly in Sixth Man of the Year race

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-hall-of-famer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Matas Buzelis names surprise Hall of Famer he wants to emulate');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Matas-Buzelis-names-surprise-Hall-of-Famer-he-wants-to-emulate.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Matas Buzelis names surprise Hall of Famer he wants to emulate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-28T09:37:57-07:00">October 28th, 9:37am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-28T10:09:16-07:00">October 28th, 10:09am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Already three games into the season, and Matas Buzelis <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-reminds-nikola-vucevic-nba-greats">is making an impression</a> on the Chicago Bulls. He is averaging 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as the Bulls are off to a 3-0 start.</p><p>On Monday, they came back from 13 points down to defeat the Atlanta Hawks 128-123. Altogether, Buzelis finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists.</p><p>As the season unfolds, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-most-improved-player-goal">Buzelis has set lofty goals</a> for himself. His boisterous confidence has led him to aim for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award in his second season.</p><p>Recently, Buzelis <a href="https://rg.org/news/basketball/matas-buzelis-eyes-most-improved-player-bulls-chase-playoff-return">outed the player</a> he wanted to follow in Tracy McGrady’s footsteps, per DJ Siddiqi of RG.org. Essentially, Buzelis said he didn’t necessarily follow the team but was drawn to McGrady’s style.</p><p>“I was a guy who watched a lot of players,” says Buzelis of McGrady. “I like Tracy McGrady.”</p><p>Plus, Buzelis connected his own fandom to that of the present NBA landscape. In other words, it is more about the players and not the team.</p><p>“I think the younger generation now are fans of our fans of certain players, not teams specifically,” he said. “I was a guy who watched everyone, and I would steal stuff from everyone.”</p><p>Much like Buzelis, McGrady was 6-foot-8. Altogether, he became a seven-time NBA All-Star and a scoring champion. He played for the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, and Houston Rockets.</p><p>He was a high-scoring, up-tempo player who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. Buzelis brings a similar sense of urgency, quickness, and flair.</p><h2><b>Tracy McGrady could have played for the Bulls</b></h2><p>Following the end of the Bulls’ dynasty in the 1990s, the organization began a steep decline. However, on two occasions, they could have <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/article/sam-smith-believed-chicago-shouldve-012300714.html#:~:text=The%20Bulls%20waited%2010%20years,become%20championship%20contenders%20once%20again.">snatched up</a> McGrady.</p><p>In 1997, then General Manager Jerry Krause was looking to trade Scottie Pippen and draft McGrady from Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina. While the longstanding belief is that Michael Jordan prevented it, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf was the one who decided against it.</p><p>Ultimately, the Toronto Raptors drafted him.</p><p>Three years later, the Bulls made an offer to McGrady after he became a free agent. Instead, he signed with the Orlando Magic.</p><p>In 2010, Chicago <a href="https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2010/07/27/chicago-bulls-express-an-interest-in-mcgrady/26279520007/">made one last pitch</a> to get McGrady. However, he had come off knee surgery and concerns about his health and limited play derailed any more chances.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Matas Buzelis names surprise Hall of Famer he wants to emulate

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-editorials/bulls-bench-secreat-weapon-2025-2026');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls’ bench proving to be secret weapon early in 2025-26');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls-forward-Isaac-Okoro-35-goes-to-the-basket-against-Atlanta-Hawks-center-Kristaps-Porzingis-8-during-the-first-half-at-United-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bulls’ bench proving to be secret weapon early in 2025-26</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T19:48:37-07:00">October 27th, 7:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T19:48:37-07:00">October 27th, 7:48pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After a sluggish start, the Chicago Bulls found themselves in contention with the Atlanta Hawks. Fortunately, Josh Giddey, who <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-hawks-finger-injury" rel="noopener">was listed as questionable</a> due to a finger injury, was in the starting rotation and finished with a double double (18 points, 13 rebounds). Additionally, Matas Buzelis came around in the second half to come away with 16 points and five rebounds. </p><p>Nikola Vucevic had another double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds. Plus, Isaac Okoro and Tre Jones found themselves in the starting rotation and scored 10 and 14 points, respectively. </p><p>The result: the Bulls won 128-123 to start the season 3-0. They came back from as many as 13 points down to win dramatically. In the process, the Bulls are 3-0 for the first time since 2021.</p><p>However, while the starters stepped up their game in the second half, it was the bench that was their anchor throughout. Altogether, the bench outscored the Hawks 53-46. The core of their second unit was Ayo Dosunmu, Patrick Williams, and Kevin Huerter. </p><p>Ultimately, Huerter finished the game with 15 points while shooting 6/8 from the field. Huerter <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/nba-news-the-revenge-game-bulls-vs-kings-didnt-belong-to-zach-lavine-demar-derozan" rel="noopener">was initially acquired by the Bulls from the Sacramento Kings</a> as part of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-trade-grade-for-zach-lavine-blockbuster" rel="noopener">the Zach LaVine trade</a>. Meanwhile, Dosunmu was lights out as he was 7/10 (70%) from the field and led all scorers with 21 points. Plus, Williams was solid all around with 12 points and three rebounds. </p><p>It’s a good thing the bench contributed, especially considering the Bulls were a meager 16/43 (37.2%) from the three-point line and started rather lethargically. Plus, for the second game in a row, the Bulls’ bench <a href="https://www.reuters.com/sports/basketball/bulls-bench-bounces-back-chicago-downs-orlando--flm-2025-10-26/" rel="noopener">stepped up</a> in a big way, per Reuters. Last Saturday, the Bulls defeated the Orlando Magic on the road 110-98. The bench was a significant factor, as they outscored Orlando 58-35. </p><p>A far cry from being outscored 50-35 against the Detroit Pistons in their season opener on Oct. 22. </p><h2><b>The Chicago Bulls’ bench can’t be overlooked or underestimated</b>.</h2><p>When looking at the totality of the second unit, the Bulls have plenty of assets. They have the depth and versatility to leave the starting unit feeling secure. For instance, Dosunmu serves as a veteran catalyst on a bench composed mainly of young players. Last season, he averaged 12.3 points per game before his season came to an end <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-ayo-dosunmu-season-ending-shoulder-surgery" rel="noopener">due to shoulder surgery</a>. </p><p>So far, he is averaging 14.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Plus, he can switch from starter to reserve. </p><p>As for Huerter, he comes off the bench to shoot the ball, particularly from three-point range. After joining the Bulls, he averaged 13.2 points per game, as well as shooting 37.6% from beyond the arc. So far, Huerter is averaging 13.0 points per game and 20% from the three-point line, but those numbers will likely increase over time. </p><p>Then there is Williams, a trifecta of rebounding, scoring, and defense. Last year, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Thus far, Williams is averaging 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. He is <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-chicago-patrick-williams-injury-update">coming off an ankle injury</a> sustained during training camp. </p><p>Additionally, Jones and Okoro will come off the bench from time to time, depending on the situation. Jones is a valiant playmaker and a rugged nose defender. The latter of which was a huge reason why the Bulls got him in the LaVine trade. Recently, Chicago signed him to a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-chicago-returning-tre-jones-3-year-24-million-contract" rel="noopener">three-year $30 million contract</a>. </p><p>The same rules applied to Okoro, another defensive threat the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers/lonzo-ball-isaac-okoro-trade-essential-cavs-bulls-kenny-atkinson-billy-donovan" rel="noopener">Bulls acquired after trading Lonzo Ball</a> to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, to round it all out, there are Jalen Smith, JeVon Carter, Julian Phillips, Zach Collins, and Delan Terry, who possess a combination of athleticism, versatility, and youthful energy. </p><p>To sum up, the Bulls got some exquisite pieces in place coming off the bench. If they keep this momentum up, we may be in for quite a surprise. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls’ bench proving to be secret weapon early in 2025-26

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-hawks-finger-injury');   ga('set', 'title', 'Josh Giddey questionable for Hawks showdown with finger injury');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls-guard-Josh-Giddey-dribbles-up-the-court-in-the-second-half-against-the-Orlando-Magic-at-Kia-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Josh Giddey questionable for Hawks showdown with finger injury</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-27T13:54:14-07:00">October 27th, 1:54pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-27T15:58:53-07:00">October 27th, 3:58pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Obviously, a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-bonkers-100-million-contract-free-agency" rel="noopener">four-year $1oo million deal says plenty</a> about how the Chicago Bulls feel about Josh Giddey. As a result, it is incumbent upon him to stay healthy. However, on Monday, Giddey was <a href="https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/injury/Injury-Report_2025-10-27_10AM.pdf" rel="noopener">officially listed</a> as questionable on the injured list before the Bulls’ game against the Atlanta Hawks. </p><p>Giddey is battling a right 4th metacarpophalangeal (MCP) sprain. On Saturday, Giddey sat out the final four minutes of the game against the Orlando Magic, in which the Bulls won 110-98. Altogether, he played 32 minutes and scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists. </p><p>Earlier on Monday, Giddey did <a href="https://x.com/KCJHoop/status/1982842586437202163" rel="noopener">take part in shootaround</a> in the lead-up to the Hawks’ game, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. Meanwhile, two other notable Bulls are out on the injured list. One of them is Coby White, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-coby-white-will-miss-start-of-season-with-calf-injury" rel="noopener">who’s out with a calf injury</a> for at least two weeks. The other being Zach Collins, who’s out with a fracture in his left scaphoid. </p><p>Meanwhile, the Hawks have two of their top players listed as questionable for Monday. They are Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain) and Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms). The Bulls are looking to start the season at 3-0 after dispatching the Detroit Pistons in their season opener, 115-111, as well as the Magic. </p><h2><b>Josh Giddey has to be present for the Bulls. </b></h2><p>With White out for the time being, it is incumbent upon Giddey to remain fresh for a variety of reasons. One, because he has that $100 million deal hanging over his head and the obvious pressure that comes along with that. Essentially, trying to prove that he is worthy of that kind of money for a lowly team. </p><p>Plus, in White’s absence, Giddey has to be one of the guys who takes over in the realm as playmaker, although Matas Buzelis can pick up the slack in some areas. However, Giddey is the interim general for this band of soldiers. </p><p>Currently, <a href="https://pippenainteasy.com/bulls-hawks-injury-report-josh-giddey-jalen-johnson-coby-white-more#:~:text=However%2C%20there's%20a%20slight%20chance,shootaround%20ahead%20of%20tonight's%20contest." rel="noopener">his status is</a> “day to day”. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Josh Giddey questionable for Hawks showdown with finger injury

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-chicago-nba-gambling-controversy');   ga('set', 'title', 'How the Bulls were inadvertently caught up in NBA gambling controversy');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Illinois-USA-Chicago-Bulls-guard-Ayo-Dosunmu-11-shoots-against-Milwaukee-Bucks-forward-Taurean-Prince-12-during-the-first-half-at-the-United-Center-1.jpg"></figure><h1>How the Bulls were inadvertently caught up in NBA gambling controversy</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-25T13:50:22-07:00">October 25th, 1:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-25T13:50:22-07:00">October 25th, 1:50pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It appears that nobody is left unscathed in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-charles-barkley-alleged-terry-rozier-chauncey-billups-betting-scandal">NBA gambling scandal</a>, which has <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-teams-fbi-found-bet-on-gambling-probe">prompted an official FBI investigation</a>. That includes the Chicago Bulls, although not for the reasons that most would assume.</p><p>It turns out the Bulls <a href="https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2025/10/24/trail-blazers-bulls-2023/" rel="noopener">were victimized</a> by alleged improprieties during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 24, 2023, per Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation. According to the indictment, Co-Conspirator No. 8 told sports bettor Eric Earnest that, against the Bulls, the Trail Blazers would tank the game. All in an effort to snatch up a top draft pick.</p><p>At the time, the Trail Blazers were out of contention for the players. They had a record of 32-40 with only ten games left in the season. In the end, the Bulls defeated the Trail Blazers 124-96.</p><p>Also, Chauncey Billups was the head coach for the Trail Blazers. He, along with Terry Rozier, is among those <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-arrested-terry-rozier-fbi-sports-gambling-probe">who were arrested</a> on charges of illegal gambling activities. Part of that included relaying player health information to bettors so they could place bets on the opposing team and increase their chances.</p><p>No Bulls players have been implicated in the scandal. On Saturday, they will play their first road game of the season against the Orlando Magic.</p><h2><b>How the Bulls have responded to the scandal</b></h2><p>So far, the only Bulls personnel to speak up about the investigation are Nikola Vucevic and head coach Billy Donovan.</p><p>Specifically, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-editorials/bulls-nikolva-vucevic-problem-gambling-sports">Vucevic addresses the problem gambling</a> poses to the integrity of sports. Additionally, raising concerns about fans wanting their favorite teams to do well for their bottom line. A contrast from traditional sports fandom of hoping the team wins regardless.</p><p>Meanwhile, Donovan <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2025/10/24/bulls-players-personnel-discuss-gambling-problem-nba" rel="noopener">openly said</a> ”I was really surprised and saddened by all of it” He <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/25/chicago-bulls-nba-gambling-scandal/" rel="noopener">also stated</a> that he had a close relationship with Billups.</p><p>Plus, Donovan <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-coaches-players-react-to-fbi-arrests-of-chauncey-billups-terry-rozier-amid-illegal-gambling-probes/#:~:text=I%20had%20money%20on%20the,and%2Dso%20in.'%22&amp;text=Kerr%20also%20emphasized%20the%20league's,it%20is%20what%20it%20is.%22" rel="noopener">said that</a> the NBA is “very adamant about this stuff” when it comes to education around gambling.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

How the Bulls were inadvertently caught up in NBA gambling controversy

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba-editorials/bulls-nikolva-vucevic-problem-gambling-sports');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls’ Nikolva Vucevic was right to call out the problem of gambling in sports');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bulls-center-Nikola-Vucevic-i.jpg"><figcaption>Kyle Ross-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bulls’ Nikolva Vucevic was right to call out the problem of gambling in sports</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-24T19:40:04-07:00">October 24th, 7:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-24T19:40:04-07:00">October 24th, 7:40pm</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the NBA is coming to grips with the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-teams-fbi-found-bet-on-gambling-probe">FBI investigation into illegal gambling activities</a>, everyone should take a page from Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic.</p><p>On Friday, the soon to be 35 year old big man <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/bulls/news/nikola-vucevic-says-the-quiet-part-aloud-following-gambling-arrests-01k8bqgjddgm" rel="noopener">didn’t mince any words</a> when asked about the situation, per Grant Mona of Sports Illustrated. Essentially, Vucevic said to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network that the pervasiveness of gambling has gone unaddressed for too long.</p><p>“We don’t know what’s gonna happen in the investigation,” Vucevic said. “But I think that in general, gambling is a big problem, not only sports here, but worldwide.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Nikola Vucevic very eloquent on off-the-court news from an otherwise sublime first few days of on-the-court product ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/pGEndqPGi3">pic.twitter.com/pGEndqPGi3</a></p><p>— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1981781121156493618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Also Vucevic said that because gambling apps are so <a href="https://x.com/KCJHoop/status/1981781121156493618" rel="noopener">readily available</a> through entities such as FanDuel and DraftKings.</p><p>“It’s available on your phone; all you got to do is download the app and you can just play. Furthemore, “Vooch” went onto elaborate the dyamic shift in fandom as it relates to gambling. In essence, saying that fans are expecting their favorite plans to win them their bets, more so than the game.</p><p>“Before, you used to heart, “Hey Vooch, get a win.” Now it’s like, “Hey, my parlay is 10 rebounds. I need 10 boards. Or hey, my parlay’s 15 points.” A lot of times you turn and it’sl like 14, 15 year old kids. And honestly, it pisses me off because it’s disrespectful to the game. We put so much work in to try to do the right thing, to put a good product on the court and try to win for our team. And some people are focused on if I’m gonna to get 10 rebounds or not.”</p><h2><b>Excessive sports gambling should be labled a public health problem</b></h2><p>As Vucevic pointed out, this goes way beyond the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers/blazers-news-chauncey-billups-arrested-terry-rozier-fbi-sports-gambling-probe">alleged improporities of Chauncy Billups, Terry Rozier</a>, and others. There is a real sickness associated with the ever-growing stranglehold gambling has on sports.</p><p>There’s no doubt that gambling and sports have gone hand in hand like peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Everyone knows about the 1919 Black Sox scandal, point-shaving in college basketball, and Pete Rose betting on baseball.</p><p>However, the difference is those instances occured during a time when sports betting was widely looked down upon and leagues and organizations wanted to distance thems as much as possible from its corrupting influence.</p><p>Now, leagues and networks have formal partnerships with sports betting companies. Plus with the Supreme Court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-sports-betting-arrests-8e7c3a0725f7ebd20ce9d739c1d3084a" rel="noopener">practically legalizing</a> sports betting nation wide in 2018, it has become a virtual free for all.</p><p>Not only that, but many fans are turning to FanDuel, DraftKings, and Parlay to connect with sports rather than with the athletes, teams, or game itself of years past. To Vooch’s point, there is less emphasise on hoping he gets ten rebounds, but rather he must get ten rebounds so that I can win my bet.</p><p>All that combined with other social, political, and ecomonic factors has led public health officials to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/30/nx-s1-5527099/as-sports-betting-explodes-experts-push-for-a-public-health-approach-to-addiction" rel="noopener">rightly say</a> that this is public health concern. The 24/7 all access of gambling apps could lead to increase rates of gambling disorders, relationship issues, and financial troubles.</p><p>Then, there is the growing usage of so-called “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/business/live-in-game-sports-betting.html#:~:text=That%20amount%20is%20on%20a,officials%2C%20is%20exactly%20the%20problem." rel="noopener">mircobetting</a>” which enables users to place their bets on specific in-game moments with immediate results. However, concerns have been raised about whether this could  jeopardize the integrity of the game itself.</p><p>Plus, the boatload of revenue generated from sports betting leads to vastly outweighs the money given to treatment centers.</p><h2><b>What can be done?</b></h2><p>As a result, public health advocates and some lawmmakers are <a href="https://hls.harvard.edu/today/sports-gambling-a-public-health-threat/#:~:text=Levant%20began%20his%20remarks%20with,in%20fact%2C%20defectively%20designed.%E2%80%9D" rel="noopener">calling for greater regultions</a> on sports betting. Among those include restrictions on microbetting, limitations on adversity, and allocating portions of revenue to treatment facilities.</p><p>Beyond the systemic remedies, there is an element of personal responsiblity and common sense. If betting is how one bonds with sports, then that’s purely transactional and not relational. Sports, at its best, is about fostering community, marveling at the sheer sight of athletic beauty, and rooting for the home team through thick and thin.</p><p>Also, anyone who does want to gamble should do so within reason and practicality, purely for entertainment. If the allegations against these multimilionares is true, then shame on them for their tone deafness. Why would they need more money when they all of the money in the world?</p><p>When <a href="https://www.barrons.com/livecoverage/inflation-september-cpi-report?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=AWEtsqfb44IuvMyZl0cufjqAPr6apoMWZABzds4yBzF5Dp0BQflvx0fjAMzod36AxCY%3D&amp;gaa_ts=68fc3b50&amp;gaa_sig=DCPeZGig9NiUmVzbc8VFV8tC1X34YCdO5AWmqGBl1oleNYdtl3s_jL_fEcMPtECJ3DjEumUJHMcskyelTx3P4Q%3D%3D" rel="noopener">inflation rose at 3%</a>, and laid off workers are <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-federal-workers-miss-paychecks-during-shutdown-many-turn-to-food-banks-for-relief" rel="noopener">lining up at food banks</a> due to the government shutdown have some self awareness and basic decency.</p><p>Either way, something has to be done to stem the tide before fandom gets taken over by FanDuel.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls’ Nikolva Vucevic was right to call out the problem of gambling in sports

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-feat-michael-jordan');   ga('set', 'title', 'Matas Buzelis reaches feat even Michael Jordan never accomplished');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chicago-Bulls-forward-Matas-Buzelis-greets-fans-after-the-game-against-the-Detroit-Pistons-at-United-Center.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Matas Buzelis reaches feat even Michael Jordan never accomplished</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-24T08:33:56-07:00">October 24th, 8:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-24T08:37:47-07:00">October 24th, 8:37am</time><address><a>Zachary Draves</a>Zachary Draves is a sportswriter and broadcaster based in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Zachary covers a variety of different sports as well as sports history, sport and society, and sport and culture. He is also a professor of sociology.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Chicago Bulls started off the season on a high note. On Wednesday, they upset the Detroit Pistons for a 115-111 victory at the United Center. While their veteran center, Nikola Vucevic, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-editorials/nikola-vucevic-bulls-unique-gunslinger">led the charge toward victory</a>, Matas Buzelis was his second-in-command.</p><p>Altogether, Buzelis finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 34 minutes of play. In the process, Buzelis <a href="https://x.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1981730457721917626" rel="noopener">achieved an exploit</a> that even Michael Jordan didn’t, per Bulls on CHSN. That is Buzelis became the youngest player in Bulls’ history to score 20+ points in a season opener.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Matas Buzelis became the youngest Bulls player ever to have 20+ points in a season opener 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/ruthiepolinsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ruthiepolinsky</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/GabeRamirez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GabeRamirez</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidHaugh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidHaugh</a> break down his big night on The Chicago Lead ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/KaUfLGFr9f">pic.twitter.com/KaUfLGFr9f</a></p><p>— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/CHSN_Bulls/status/1981730457721917626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>For comparison sakes, Jordan scored 16 points in his first season opener with the Bulls in 1984. At the time, he was a 21 year old rookie. Fast forward to 2025 and Buzelis is 21 years old and beginning his second season in Chicago.</p><p>A far cry from where Buzelis was a year ago. In the Bulls season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans in 2024, Buzelis played only five minutes and didn’t score a single point. He managed to muster up an assist and two rebounds.</p><p>This year, Buzelis is looking to capitalize on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/exclusive-bulls-matas-buzelis-leap-nba-summer-league">strong showing during the NBA Summer League</a>. All the while, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-most-improved-player-goal">gunning for a NBA Most Improved Player Award</a>.</p><p>Essentially trying to prove that he is to not be overlooked.</p><h2><b>Matas Buzelis has a Jordan like confidence and impatience</b></h2><p>When Jordan arrived in Chicago, he was an irreverent rookie who didn’t wait his turn. The end results obviously speak for themselves.</p><p>Buzelis possesses those same attributes, looking for success in the here and now. Meanwhile, head coach Billy Donovan has encouraged <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-billy-donovan-matas-buzelies-arrived">Buzelis to hit the brakes</a> before he goes off a metaphorical cliff, saying that Buzelis has not ‘arrived” yet.</p><p>Nevertheless, Buzelis is expected to take on a greater role in the follow of the Bulls offense. That is because <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba-editorials/matas-buzelis-bulls-breakout-coby-white-injury">Coby White is out with a calf injury</a>.</p><p>The Bulls will play their second game of the season on the road against the Orlando Magic on Saturday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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Bulls NEWS

Bulls News: Get the latest Chicago Bulls news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Bulls News

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ChicagoBulls NEWS

Bulls News: Get the latest Chicago Bulls news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Bulls News

Why the Bulls are officially back and will make NBA Playoffs

Why Matas Buzelis’ Most Improved Player declaration isn’t looking so far-fetched

Bulls’ Josh Giddey admits ‘weird feeling’ on Thunder’s NBA championship

Watch Bulls’ touching tribute video to Zach LaVine

Billy Donovan reveals biggest reason behind stunning 3-0 start

Why Ayo Dosunmu is firmly in Sixth Man of the Year race

Matas Buzelis names surprise Hall of Famer he wants to emulate

• Bulls’ bench proving to be secret weapon early in 2025-26

• Josh Giddey questionable for Hawks showdown with finger injury

• How the Bulls were inadvertently caught up in NBA gambling controversy

• Bulls’ Nikolva Vucevic was right to call out the problem of gambling in sports

• Matas Buzelis reaches feat even Michael Jordan never accomplished

Chicago
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