Offense wasn’t hard to come by for the Chicago Bulls this past season. Even before the Bulls’ late-season surge, they ranked 10th in points per game, 18th in offensive rating, and third in pace before the All-Star break.
Following the All-Star break, the Bulls averaged the second-most points per game and trotted out the 14th-most efficient offense, all while playing at the league’s fastest pace. This improvement came despite trading all-world scorer Zach LaVine for a trio of role players: Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, and Zach Collins.
Huerter helped the Bulls’ spacing tremendously, and Jones provided a steady hand at the point, but Collins’ impact wasn’t as visible perusing the box score. Nonetheless, he ranked second on the team in screen assists and second-chance points, despite playing only 19.7 minutes per game. Less than a month into Collins’ tenure in the Windy City, Billy Donovan praised his effort and toughness, stating, “Zach’s not got a lot of regard for his body… He throws his body around in there.”
Collins’ infusion of toughness into the Bulls’ lineup was a boon not only for the offense but also for the defense, which drastically improved in the latter half of 2024-25. Chicago had been without this niche archetype of role player for too long, which ultimately led to subpar offensive rebounding numbers, second-chance points, and screen assists for several consecutive years.
Olbrich supplies the Bulls with much-needed hustle and toughness
Instead of a continued disregard for a high-energy, lunch pail-type player, Chicago nabbed Australia’s Lachlan Olbrich with the 55th overall pick in last month’s draft. Although Olbrich didn’t wow with his counting stats in the NBL, nor impress at the NBA Combine with tantalizing measurables, he’s been praised for characteristics such as feel, grit, and physicality.
Thus far in the NBA Summer League, Olbrich has exhibited the previously mentioned attributes to a tee. Like his previous stops, Olbrich hasn’t exactly lit up the box score, averaging only 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 26.6 minutes per game. However, he’s been a difference-maker, setting rocking screens, battling on the offensive glass, and demonstrating an unmatched passion in the exhibition season.
It’s a possibility that Olbrich will never be a rotational player for the Bulls, especially on a nightly basis. After all, he was the 55th pick and only one 55th selection in the last 10 years has made any sort of impact—Aaron Wiggins.
Still, Olbrich would ultimately live up to his draft slot and more if he supplies the Bulls with much-needed toughness in a role similar to Udonis Haslem, Nick Collison, or ex-Bull Taj Gibson. The potential might not be through the roof, like fellow draftee Noa Essengue, but that’s not why Chicago nabbed the 21-year-old big man.
