The Chicago Bulls were — statistically and via the eye test — one of the NBA’s worst defenses in 2024-25, so it should come as no surprise that they boast the third-worst defensive rating in NBA 2K26.

Evaluations from this year’s version of the league’s most celebrated video game are out, and while the team isn’t highly rated in most categories, it’s graded as especially poor on that end of the floor, so much so that even one of the Association’s most potent offenses (at least in real life) won’t be able to compensate.

Chicago Bulls rank 28th in defense in NBA 2K26

The game’s ratings are subject to change and updated often during the regular season, so there’s always a chance the Bulls inch closer toward becoming a mid-tier team. If that’s the case, the franchise’s three-year playoff drought should end, even if Chicago faces the Miami Heat again this postseason.

At least some credit is due to the front office for building a roster that has quickly become one of the league’s highest scoring. Only months removed from trading DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls went from 22nd in points per game (112.6) in 2023-24 to sixth (117.8) last year. The offense was modernized, too. Head coach Billy Donovan’s squad made a massive leap from averaging 32.1 3-point attempts (26th in the NBA) two seasons ago to third (42.0).

Perhaps most tellingly, Chicago went from playing at the third-slowest pace with DeRozan to the second-fastest without him. That could be the impetus behind some of the dramatic defensive dropoff, but the Bulls aren’t exactly stacked with defensive stoppers.

Along with a change in scheme and speed came a trade that sent away one of the league’s top perimeter defenders in Alex Caruso, and brought in Josh Giddey. The 22-year-old Aussie is a jumbo playmaker with a much higher upside, which he proved by having his best NBA campaign last year, but is a minus defensively — and certainly a monumental downgrade from Caruso.

Coby White became the Bulls’ top scorer once Zach LaVine was traded. Among all players who appeared in at least 60 games last season, White was 190th in defensive rating. Nikola Vucevic has long been a turnstile on that end of the floor.

Kevin Huerter has never been considered a defensive stopper. Neither have Tre Jones, Jalen Smith, nor Zach Collins. Patrick Williams is still better in theory than in reality. It was 20-year-old rookie Matas Buzelis who led the Bulls in blocks despite not starting a game until February.

All of those ingredients mixed cooked a team that finished 19th in defensive rating and, fittingly, 28th in points per game allowed.