The Chicago Bulls played at one of the fastest paces in the NBA last season, but they’re ready to take things up a notch. With the additions of rookie Noa Essengue and Isaac Okoro, along with an improved Matas Buzelis and, eventually, point guard Josh Giddey, head coach Billy Donovan has a deeper, longer and more athletic group at his disposal.
Last season, the organization leaned heavily into a more free-flowing offense predicated on taking advantage of transition opportunities, spacing the floor and launching open threes. The Bulls moved on from DeMar DeRozan, who thrived in half-court, isolation opportunities.
They traded Alex Caruso for Giddey, the ideal floor general to lead a run-and-gun scheme.
Vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas doubled down on that youth and athleticism but added a much-needed wrinkle to the roster with an established wing defender in Okoro and the massive length and smooth movement of Essengue. Those inclusions have the team’s coaching staff thinking even bigger this season.
Chicago Bulls have an aggressive goal to reach in 2025-26
The Bulls played at the second-fastest pace in the NBA last season. But as the famous Ricky Bobby says in the movie Talladega Nights, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Donovan and his staff seem to be taking Bobby’s advice to heart; they have no desire to be second-best this year. An unnamed Bulls coach had the following to say about the team’s roster additions and what adjustments they’ll allow Chicago to make this year, via Keith Smith of Spotrac.
““Last year, we played pretty fast. I think we can play even faster next season. Our roster is built for it. And you saw with Indiana and OKC in the Finals, that playing with pace is so important. We’re going to get after it on defense, force turnovers and then get out and run. That suits Matas (Buzelis) and Noa (Essengue) as our young forwards and all of our guards really well. We also think that Isaac (Okoro) will benefit in a more up-tempo style too. There’s untapped potential there.””
Member of Chicago Bulls’ coaching staff
The Bulls had no problem playing with pace last year. But for better or worse, they were often forced to hurry up the floor after giving up a made basket. Chicago ranked 28th in points per game allowed and 27th in points off turnovers.
If the Bulls can shore up their defense and create more takeaways, they’ll have no problem playing faster. Essengue was clearly a target in the draft as an athletic 6-foot-11, high-energy combo forward with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. Once he earns Donovan’s trust and gets on the floor, his long arms and activity level will force opponents into tougher shots and, theoretically, more turnovers.
Over his five NBA seasons, Okoro has proven to be a strong, versatile defender who can switch across multiple positions. He’s averaged 1.6 stocks per 36 minutes in his career and has often been tasked with guarding the opposition’s best wing scorer.
Although he can’t keep up with quicker guards, Giddey, at 6-foot-8, is long enough to get into passing lanes and cause deflections. Buzelis is 6-foot-10 and led the Bulls in blocks last season. He’s also expected to handle more playmaking duties, especially in transition.
The Bulls have the pieces to cause more havoc on defense and use it to their benefit on the fast break. They’re going to run every chance they get, and they should get more of those chances. Even if another play-in tournament spot awaits, Chicago will be a more exciting team to watch.
