Bulls On Tap Tasting Flight: Chicago Bulls News for Oct. 23, 2024

Chicago Bulls 2024-25 Season Tips Off in New Orleans

Happy opening night! The Bulls begin the 2024-25 regular season Wednesday when they visit the New Orleans Pelicans. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CT and the game will air on Chicago Sports Network (more on CHSN in a bit).

Bulls, Josh Giddey Fail to Reach Contract Extension 

The Bulls had until Monday to sign Josh Giddey to a contract extension, but a deal didn't come to fruition. This news (or lack thereof) comes as no surprise given Giddey’s poor play last season and transition to a new team. The sides still have an opportunity to negotiate a deal in the window after the 2025 NBA Finals but before free agency opens.

“That stuff will take of itself,” Giddey said of a deal not getting done. He emphasized that it’s a matter of when, not if, and added that he's focusing on basketball entering the season. Giddey’s positive thinking is warranted considering management's track record of not reaching an early agreement with players.

Previously, Coby White and Patrick Williams signed extensions with the Bulls after the season's end. At one point, it seemed Ayo Dosunmu wouldn't re-sign with the Bulls after his disappointing sophomore season, but he eventually landed a three-year extension. Currently, Giddey is the highest pick from the 2021 draft to not receive a contract extension.

Many Bulls Fans in Chicago Still Can’t Watch Games

CHSN and Comcast are still engaged in a standoff regarding channel tier placement, leaving Xfinity subscribers without access to the new network.

Despite CHSN's efforts to reach a broadcasting deal with Comcast — even imploring subscribers to reach out to the cable company and demand it carries CHSN — a deal isn't in place for Bulls opening night.

As of this writing, CHSN is only available via cable services DIRECTV (channel 665), DIRECTV Stream (channel 665), U-Verse (channel 1741), and Astound (channels 685 and 576) in addition to several over-the-air channels, which require a digital antenna to access.

So unless Comcast agrees to a deal before tip-off or CHSN releases an app they've claimed to have ready if needed, many Bulls fans will still be asking, “Where can I watch the game?”

Coby White Receives Early NBA All-Star Buzz

As part of its opening-night promotional content, ESPN included Coby White in its list of potential first-time NBA All-Stars.