CHI TOR CHI MIL WAS CHI CHI BOS NYK CHI CHI BOS CHI PHI CHI NYK PHI CHI SAS CHIHead Coach
Tiago Splitter
Assistant Coach
Trainer
Founded
1966
City
Chicago
Arena
United Center
G-League
Windy City Bulls
Governor(s)
Michael Reinsdorf
General Manager
—
| Player | # | POS | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Age | Exp | School | How Acquired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobe Awaka | — | F | 6-8 | 250 lbs | Jan 30, 2004 | 22 | R | Arizona | Signed on 07/03/26 |
| Jaylin Sellers | — | — | — | — | Jun 03, 2003 | 23 | R | Providence | Signed on 07/03/26 |
| Josh Giddey | 3 | G | 6-7 | 214 lbs | Oct 10, 2002 | 23 | 5 | NBA Global Academy | Traded from OKC on 06/21/24 |
| Dailyn Swain | 5 | F | 6-7 | 220 lbs | Jul 15, 2005 | 21 | R | Texas | #15 Pick in 2026 Draft |
| Rob Dillingham | 7 | G | 6-2 | 175 lbs | Jan 04, 2005 | 21 | 2 | Kentucky | Traded from MIN on 02/05/26 |
| Caleb Wilson | 8 | F | 6-10 | 215 lbs | Jul 18, 2006 | 20 | R | North Carolina | #4 Pick in 2026 Draft |
| Nic Claxton | 9 | C | 6-11 | 215 lbs | Apr 17, 1999 | 27 | 7 | Georgia | Traded from BKN on 07/10/26 |
| Leonard Miller | 11 | F | 6-10 | 220 lbs | Nov 26, 2003 | 22 | 3 | NBA G League Ignite | Traded from MIN on 02/05/26 |
| Zach Collins | 12 | F-C | 6-9 | 240 lbs | Nov 19, 1997 | 28 | 9 | Gonzaga | Traded from SAS on 02/03/25 |
| Matas Buzelis | 14 | F | 6-8 | 196 lbs | Oct 13, 2004 | 21 | 2 | NBA G League Ignite | #11 Pick in 2024 Draft |
| Norman Powell | 24 | G | 6-3 | 215 lbs | May 25, 1993 | 33 | 11 | UCLA | Signed on 07/10/26 |
| Noa Essengue | 24 | F | 6-8 | 194 lbs | Dec 18, 2006 | 19 | 1 | Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) | #12 Pick in 2025 Draft |
| Jalen Smith | 25 | F-C | 6-8 | 244 lbs | Mar 16, 2000 | 26 | 6 | Maryland | Signed on 07/08/24 |
| Tre Jones | 30 | G | 6-1 | 190 lbs | Jan 08, 2000 | 26 | 6 | Duke | Traded from SAS on 02/03/25 |
| Isaac Okoro | 35 | F-G | 6-4 | 225 lbs | Jan 26, 2001 | 25 | 6 | Auburn | Traded from CLE on 07/06/25 |
| Patrick Williams | 44 | F | 6-6 | 235 lbs | Aug 26, 2001 | 24 | 6 | Florida State | #4 Pick in 2020 Draft |
Total Points
Michael Jordan
29,277
Total Assists
Michael Jordan
5,012
Total Rebounds
Michael Jordan
5,836
Total Blocks
Artis Gilmore
1,029
Total Steals
Michael Jordan
2,306
Championship Wins
1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Conference Titles
1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
Division Titles
1975, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2011, 2012
The Chicago Bulls start the NBA 2026-2027 season as one of the most touted teams in the Eastern Conference, battling against its iconic 1990s dynasty. The Bulls, who opened their season in Chicago in the Central Division, are now led by new coach Tiago Splitter, who replaces Billy Donovan, who stepped down in April 2026. On the roster side, Chicago got center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn in a four-team trade, and toughness to a team that was struggling to find its way.
This is a guide to both sides of the equation: first, the Bulls as a franchise; and then, just what has changed in 2026-27.
The Chicago Bulls began as an expansion team in 1966, and grew into a worldwide phenomenon 20 years later. In the decades that have passed, the team has become the most iconic basketball brand in the world, still compared to its glory days of the 1990s. The franchise's championship history consists of six championships, including two three-peats in the 90s which are discussed among fans and analysts when considering the all-time greats in the Central Division.
Some of the athletes that come to mind when thinking of the franchise's history are Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, players who helped shape the Chicago Bulls brand for many generations of basketball enthusiasts. For context, it's a franchise that has been around since 1959 and has won 6 NBA championships that's being talked about here this year, not a team that is still in the process of becoming their first.
The Chicago Bulls are known league-wide as the most recognized basketball brand on the planet, still measured against its 1990s dynasty. That identity influences everything from how the front office approaches trades and free agency to how the coaching staff builds its offensive and defensive systems.
Entering 2026-27, new head coach Tiago Splitter is expected to emphasize defensive structure and disciplined half-court execution — a real shift from Chicago's previous pace-driven approach, and one that will be judged in part against the standard the franchise's championship history has set.
Rivalries also shape how a franchise is perceived nationally. The Chicago Bulls's most notable rivalry is with the Detroit Pistons, a matchup that regularly draws elevated attention on the schedule and is worth marking on any Bulls fan's calendar.
The Chicago Bulls 2026-2027 season opens under new leadership: Tiago Splitter takes over as head coach after Billy Donovan stepped down in April 2026. On the roster side, Chicago acquired center Nic Claxton from Brooklyn in a four-team trade, adding rim protection to a roster still searching for its long-term direction. This season matters as a proving ground for Splitter's coaching philosophy and whether Claxton's defensive presence can anchor a competitive rotation.
The Bulls have gone through some playoff and play seasons between rebuilding and trying to be contenders, and have never been able to go to either extremes. The coaching switch is a new beginning, and the slight tweaks to the roster point to ongoing retooling, not necessarily a complete overhaul.
New head coach Tiago Splitter, who replaced an interim coach in Portland, will likely focus on a more disciplined half-court offense and structure to replace Chicago's fast-break running style.
What to Watch: If Claxton can build a defensive identity around Splitter in his first season, it will set the tone for the season.
First-Round Pick: Caleb Wilson (No. 4 overall) Strengths: High-level two-way forward with strong feel for the game Expected rookie role: Immediate rotation minutes, likely a long-term building block
Strengths: Athletic wing defender
One of the top five picks will now be one of the most important young players on the roster, giving Chicago a true cornerstone to develop around after the rebuild.
| Move | Type | Expected Impact |
| Nic Claxton (from Brooklyn) | Trade | Rim protection and interior defense |
| Norman Powell (from Miami) | Free Agent | Perimeter scoring punch |
| Anfernee Simons → Philadelphia | Departure | Loses backcourt scorer |
Roster fit analysis: Claxton provides Chicago with an anchor on the defense for the first time in many years, and Wilson will give the team the cornerstone it's been searching for.
Dailyn Swain, Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers are young, and dependable depth off the bench.
Josh Giddey Is expected to be a key figure on the offensive line in a new coaching system.
Caleb Wilson The rookie forward is a top-five pick and has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to make an impact right away.
Whether or not Splitter's defensive system becomes established around Claxton will be the key to Chicago's competitiveness on a nightly basis.
The Chicago Bulls belong to the Central Division in the Eastern Conference, where they're counted among the top groups in the conference. The playoff seeding, home-court advantage and playoff lock up (after the play-in tournament) are determined by division and conference standings. It doesn't necessarily reflect the overall record of the Bulls, but it does help to show the performance of the retooled team against its most frequent opponents in the division.
Claxton leads the way on the top half of the defense and Wilson has the ability to play right away and could be a baseline defender for Chicago.
Coaching transition is rocky and Chicago heads for another place in the lottery.
No — Chicago is still in retool mode, but there are good building blocks there now on defense and development.
Each season of the NBA has its own roster changes, coaching strategies, and health-related fluctuations that can impact a team's path long before reaching the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls have a number of storylines to watch:
Rosters, coaching staff and injury situations fluctuate during the season, so any guess regarding the Bulls' form in preseason should be taken only as a starting point — the best way to keep an eye on the Bulls is to follow the live schedule and box scores as the season goes along.
As in every season of the NBA, the Chicago Bulls will host an 82-game regular season before the playoffs field is determined. That's a workload that's divided pretty evenly between the conference foes (including a few add-on games against Central Division opponents such as the Detroit Pistons) and an ever-changing slate of interconference opponents. With 6 championship titles in its history, every game of the regular season matters: It's a play-in round that can mean the difference between the sixth seed and the play-in game and it also provides home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference.
The season can be divided into distinct periods:
For those who've never seen the Chicago Bulls before in 2026-27, it's no mere trivia, but an understanding of the franchise's history that should inform how they're covered and discussed. A 6-champ franchise has different expectations than a team that is just getting started: It's reasonable to expect that every season will be judged by Michael Jordan's standards, whether deserved or not. In this regard, it's important to remember that context is important because it helps explain why a coaching change and defensive-minded move for Nic Claxton has garnered so much attention in Chicago.
It also details why the Detroit Pistons matchup resonates more with the Bulls fan base in particular than with other rivalries, which is that the matchup is decades-old and any season of rebuilding isn't a time to be emotionally attached to other rivalries.
Players such as Caleb Wilson can find play-in odds, win total markets, and Rookie of the Year futures from leading sports betting site in the Philippines, Sports OKBet, in addition to game-by-game lines throughout the season.
The Bulls arrive in 2026-27 with coaching changes and a new defensive identity with Nic Claxton with a new cornerstone in Caleb Wilson and under a new era compared to the 1990s dynasty. It's a transitional period for the new era and a play-in push would be a success. Take advantage of Chicago's season and stay updated on current odds and insight from
It was established in 1966, as an expansion team that went on to become a global phenomenon 20 years later.
The Chicago Bulls have their home court at the United Center in Chicago.
The Chicago Bulls play in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.
The most significant historical match-up in the Chicago Bulls' history is against the Detroit Pistons.
Former Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter, replacing Billy Donovan.
Chicago picked No. 4 overall Caleb Wilson.
Getting center Nic Claxton in a four team trade with Brooklyn.
Considering the defensive upgrade, a play-in berth may be possible but not a top-6 seed.
The Chicago Bulls have claimed six NBA championships in two three-peat streaks in the 1990s.
