Why the Chicago Bulls Will and Won’t Make the Playoffs in 2026

As often seen in the NBA, though, anything can happen. Here are three reasons why the 2026 Bulls could shock some people and make the playoffs, and three reasons why they could be on the outside looking in for another year:

Why They Can Make It

Matas Buzelis takes a sophomore jump: The biggest factor for success for the Bulls in 2026 and beyond will rest on the development of Matas Buzelis. While again, Chicago doesn’t currently have any superstar talent, Matas certainly has the potential to become that. 

As a 20-year-old rookie, Buzelis averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and nearly a block per game on efficient shooting numbers (45.4% FG and 36.1% 3FG). He only got better as the season went as well; in the final 22 games Buzelis averaged 13.5 points. 

The biggest area for Matas’ development is being able to consistently create his own shot. He has played well off the ball as a secondary scorer, but if he’s able to score off the bounce he’ll become a nightmare to defend with his 6-foot-10 frame. 

It may not happen this year, but if it does, the Bulls would have a trio of young, dynamic offensive threats in Buzelis, Giddey and White.

Veterans lead the way: Along with their young core of White, Giddey and Buzelis, Chicago surrounds them with experienced veterans in Nikola Vucevic, Tre Jones, Jevon Carter, Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter.

Sure, none of those names jump off the page, but they have the ability to provide steady production for an otherwise young team. While this roster construction does contribute to the Bulls not having a high ceiling, they can certainly help keep Chicago out of the cellar and in playoff contention in 2026. 

Top 10 Offense: One aspect of the game the Bulls in 2025 excelled at was the ability to play fast. In fact, Chicago had the second fastest pace in the NBA last season. With an offense that struggles creating shots in the halfcourt, they do their best to limit those opportunities all together. 

Along with playing fast, the Bulls also shoot threes more than just about any team in the NBA. In 2025 they averaged 42 attempts per game, behind only the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. 

The NBA as a whole has been shifting towards more fast-paced offenses and shooting a lot of threes, and the Bulls buy into that as well as anybody. 

This was a Bulls team that finished the season 17-10 post the All-Star break in 2025 mainly due to their offense. If they can replicate that success even a little bit, the Bulls have the potential to have one of the better units on that side of the ball.

Why They Won’t Make The Playoffs

Trading Nikola Vucevic: Seen as the last domino waiting to fall from the early 2020 era Bulls teams, Vucevic enters 2026 in the final season of his three-year contract extension. 

It’s been no secret around the league that the Bulls have been trying to move the 34 year-old center. The issue has been finding a trade partner willing to take on his $21 million salary. However as he’s entering free agency at the end of this year, dealing him could come a little easier. 

Outside of Vucevic, the Bulls’ big man group leaves a lot to be desired. If the Bulls were to trade him, Chicago would feel his absence.

Love him or hate him, if the Bulls want to be in playoff talks this season, it likely means keeping “Vooch” for the entire year. 

Regression: The steps forward the Bulls’ young core took last year is the reason there is any optimism at all for the 2026 season. White and Giddey are both coming off career seasons, but it’s not guaranteed they can replicate that same success. Buzelis projects to have a larger impact this year, however he may still be a year or two away.

Progression, especially in young players, is hardly ever linear. Fans should expect bumps in the road. It would be great if the Bulls young core took another leap forward this year, but it’s far from certain. 

Youth Movement: An underrated factor in the Bulls’ performance this season will be how Head Coach Billy Donovan manages the rotation. 

The starting lineup feels set at this point in White, Isaac Okoro, Giddey, Buzelis and Vucevic. Where things start to get interesting is on the bench.

They have the group of proven veterans, but they also have a collection of young, unproven players who are fighting for minutes. Julian Phillips, Dalen Terry, Jalen Smith, and Ayo Dosunmu are all talented enough to earn minutes on a nightly basis, but their consistency is more uncertain. 

This puts Donovan in a tough situation: play the veterans in hopes of picking up a few more wins and staying in the playoff race, or play the young Bulls and give them meaningful developmental minutes. 

Giving the youth a chance may be the better route to go for the future of the franchise, but it would likely mean sacrificing some wins in the process.