The Eastern Conference just got a wake-up call, and it’s coming from the Windy City. The Chicago Bulls, long pegged as a middling squad in the East’s crowded middle tier, have stormed out of the gates with a perfect 3-0 record to open the 2025-26 season. Defying preseason projections that painted them as lottery hopefuls despite a strong finish to last year, the Bulls are proving they’re not just playing with house money—they’re cashing in big.
Their latest statement? A gritty 128-123 thriller over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night at the United Center. Atlanta, fresh off a summer of splashy roster tweaks and buzzing with higher expectations, came in as the trendy pick to climb the standings. But Chicago turned the script, weathering 12 more turnovers than their foes and leaning on a suffocating defense and balanced attack to seal the deal. Eight Bulls players cracked double figures in scoring, a testament to the “committee” ethos that’s fueling this hot streak.
Giddey’s Blueprint: Winning by Committee
Postgame, it was Australian import and Bulls’ rising star Josh Giddey who laid out the secret sauce behind Chicago’s unblemished start. The 23-year-old guard, who’s been a revelation since his midseason surge last year, emphasized the power of shared burdens over solo heroics.
“It has to be done by committee, and I think that’s the way it’s been these first three,” Giddey told reporters, his voice steady amid the confetti-strewn locker room. He wasn’t wrong. In their season opener against the Detroit Pistons, six Chicago players poured in double-digit points. Against the Orlando Magic in Game 2, that number swelled to seven. And on Monday? Eight, including a bench explosion led by Ayo Dosunmu’s game-high 21 points.
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Giddey’s own line against Atlanta—18 points, a monstrous 13 rebounds, and five assists—epitomized the all-hands-on-deck mentality. Sure, his assist numbers dipped slightly in the last two outings (he’s still dishing at an elite clip overall), but the distribution game has been elevated by point guard Tre Jones, who’s already tallied 25 dimes through three contests. It’s a far cry from the iso-heavy Bulls of yesteryear, and it’s working like gangbusters.
Even with sharpshooter Coby White nursing an early-season injury on the sidelines, Chicago hasn’t skipped a beat. White’s return will inject a reliable closer into late-game scenarios—think crunch-time buckets when the math gets tight—but Giddey and coach Billy Donovan see no reason to abandon the collective firepower. “Why fix what ain’t broke?” as the saying goes. This approach spreads the load, keeps legs fresh, and turns every possession into a potential highlight for someone new.
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Flashes of Brilliance, Room to Grow
The Bulls’ surge isn’t just about vets like Giddey and Jones stepping up; it’s the youth infusion that’s got fans dreaming big. Second-year forward Matas Buzelis, the lanky Lithuanian phenom drafted ninth overall last summer, is starting to connect the dots. Against Atlanta, he dropped 16 points with his signature blend of length and athleticism, flashing All-Defensive upside on one end while probing for his spot-up jumper on the other.
Buzelis has been a two-way terror in spurts—blocks that echo off the rafters, transition dunks that ignite the crowd—but his three-point stroke remains a work in progress. He’s ice-cold from deep early on (1-for-8 through three games), but at 19, the flashes scream future star. If he rounds out that perimeter game, Chicago’s frontcourt becomes a nightmare matchup.
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Deeper in the rotation, the Bulls are getting timely sparks from everywhere: Zach LaVine’s midrange mastery (he’s averaging 22.3 points), DeMar DeRozan’s veteran poise in the clutch, and Dosunmu’s sixth-man fire. Defensively, they’re forcing turnovers at a top-10 clip and crashing the glass like it’s a personal vendetta. It’s not flawless—those 18 turnovers against Atlanta were a stark reminder of growing pains—but the wins are piling up.
Next Up: A Reunion in Sacramento
As the East recalibrates its power rankings, Chicago’s gaze shifts westward for a Wednesday night tilt against the Sacramento Kings (8:00 p.m. EST, NBA TV). It’s more than just a cross-country jaunt; it’s a reunion tour for LaVine and DeRozan, both of whom spurned the Kings in free agency last summer to chase rings in the Midwest. Expect fireworks—Sacramento’s up-tempo attack, led by De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, will test the Bulls’ newfound depth.
If Chicago extends its streak to 4-0, the “watch out” sirens will blare even louder. The East is a gauntlet of contenders—Boston, Milwaukee, Philly, and now a resurgent New York—but the Bulls are crashing the party uninvited. Giddey’s recipe? Simple: Share the rock, share the scoring, share the success.
In a conference where superteams falter and parity reigns, Chicago’s committee could be the most dangerous weapon of all. The doubters? They’re awfully quiet this week.