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[Chicago Bulls]

Chicago Bulls’ Coby White sets new expected return date

The Chicago Bulls have started off hot this season despite being down one of their key players.

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Following the Bulls’ 113-111 comeback win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, Chicago sits atop the wide-open Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record.

Bulls point guard Coby White has missed all seven games with a calf injury he sustained in the offseason.

Coby White wants to return soon​

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers Apr 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) reacts during the national anthem before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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Per K.C. Johnson of CHSN, White hopes to return to action for the Bulls’ three-game West Coast trip that will start against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 16.

“I feel good physically, been running a lot,” White said.

Coby White: “I feel good physically, been running a lot.”

White doesn’t have a specific target date but plans to practice next week and potentially play the week of West Coast trip

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 6, 2025

Chicago will then play at the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 17 and on the road against the Portland Trailblazers on Nov. 19. In the meantime, the Bulls will play four more games, including on Friday night on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Chicago Bulls won’t have a chemistry problem​

Apr 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) stands on the court during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-Imagn Images

Chicago has had strong chemistry on the court without White, who averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds a game last season. White doesn’t think the Bulls will miss a beat when he returns.

“The way I play fits the way we play-quick decisions,” White said. I’m not a ball stopper. I just play to win.”

For those worried about Coby White disrupting chemistry, a fairly preposterous concept given he’s most talented offensive player, White said this: “The way I play fits the way we play-quick decisions. I’m not a ball stopper. I just play to win.”

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 6, 2025

The Bulls’ strong start has been fueled by great play from Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic. Giddey is coming off of back-to-back triple-doubles, the first time the Bulls have seen that happen since Michael Jordan did so in the 1980s.

Chicago could be an even more scary team when White returns.

Mar 19, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) dribbles against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at PHX Aena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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[Chicago Bulls]

NBA insider rips Chicago Bulls’ draft class to shreds

The Chicago Bulls are off to an impressive start. Missing Coby White, they’re leading the Eastern Conference at 6-1. They’ve done so without anything from their rookie class. Noa Essengue and Lachlan Olbrich have contributed very little amid this hot start. Obviously, the Bulls are doing just fine without that, but it’s not an ideal situation for the team either way. The future matters, too, and one insider believes the Bulls added almost nothing to the future in the draft.

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NBA insider criticizes Chicago Bulls’ rookie class​

Oct 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) defends Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue (24) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

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It’s a good thing for a team to be so good and not need their first-round lottery pick at all. However, since the Chicago Bulls aren’t necessarily overflowing with All-Stars at this point, it is easy to imagine how good they could be if they picked someone who was playing and good at this stage in the draft. Instead, they got Noa Essengue, and he hasn’t played.

Bleacher Report insider Greg Swartz gave them an F, which is the worst grade out of all teams. No one else has an F. “Despite being selected at No. 12 overall, Noa Essengue has yet to log an NBA minute and has been sent to practice with the G-League’s Windy City Bulls ahead of their season opener on Saturday,” Swartz wrote. “An immediate impact would have been nice, although the Bulls claim this was their plan all along.”

Billy Donovan said that this is an 18-year-old player with a “huge runway” to improve, but that the Bulls are going to invest in his development. That means zero NBA minutes right now, although that could change in the future. This was, according to the coach, discussed all the way back in June.

“Essengue is the only lottery pick to not play in a game yet this season. The only other first-rounders who have failed to see the court are Thomas Sorber (out for the year with a torn ACL) and Kasparas Jakučionis (groin injury),” Swartz continued. “This isn’t a good start for Chicago’s lottery pick, no matter how the team spins it.”

NBA: Draft

To be totally fair, Essengue was always seen as a toolsy, upside pick. At 18, it’s no surprise that the Bulls haven’t used him yet. He hasn’t been needed, which is good for the team. It’s just hard to argue against the criticism since this draft class has brought literally nothing to the table so far.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/nba-insider-rips-chicago-bulls-draft-class-to-shreds

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Bill Simmons thinks Chicago Bulls don’t need Coby White

If this early hot streak has indicated anything, it’s that Josh Giddey is the man with the Chicago Bulls. It might also indicate that they can survive without Coby White, who has yet to play thanks to an injury. The Bulls are an impressive 6-1 without him. With a crucial contract decision coming up, that’s bad news for White. Bill Simmons, an NBA analyst, believes it means his future lies elsewhere.

More News: NBA insider rips Chicago Bulls’ draft class to shreds

NBA analyst thinks Chicago Bulls can move on from Coby White​

Apr 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) drives to the basket against the Charlotte Hornets during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-Imagn Images

More News: Chicago Bulls’ Coby White sets new expected return date

While Coby White would certainly help the Chicago Bulls right now, they’re doing just fine without him. And in the future, they could do the same and save hundreds of millions of dollars to spend elsewhere. That seems to be the takeaway from longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons, at least.

Simmons said, “If I’m Chicago… I struck oil with Josh Giddey. This is not a sample size, this guy is dominating games… He’s getting where he wants on the court and getting what shot he wants. You’ve got something really special happening here. I don’t want Coby White. I’m not going to pay him next year.”

The analyst said he’d prefer to put his chips into “the Giddey basket” and build around him. He also suggested the Bulls try to trade White, which has been a consideration before. White made himself into a star, but he’s probably going to end up costing the Bulls a little more than he’s worth. In Simmons’ eyes, the Giddey contract and his play make this a non-issue. White can easily be offloaded now, and another team can overpay for him.

Apr 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) stands on the court during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-Imagn Images

His co-host also noted that Matas Buzelis is “everything you could’ve hoped he would be” so far, which makes it easier to move on from White. The Bulls have Giddey’s running mate in Buzelis, which makes White expendable.

Simmons did say that White fits right in with the Bulls’ offensive identity, so it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion that his days are numbered. “They may decide we’re just better off keeping him,” he said. He just believes that White’s affordable expiring contract in a league where “nobody wants to make a trade” could set the Bulls up so nicely that they can’t justify paying White later on.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/bill-simmons-thinks-chicago-bulls-dont-need-coby-white

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Chicago Bulls HC has brutal words for Matas Buzelis after loss to Bucks

The Chicago Bulls entered Friday night’s contest against the Milwaukee Bucks with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

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The Bulls left with a wake-up call and a 6-2 record following a 126-110 loss to the Bucks in front of 17,839 fans at Fiserv Stadium.

Chicago didn’t have an answer to defend Giannis Antetokounmpo, allowing the star center to score 41 points and grab 15 rebounds. He was one assist shy of a triple-double.

Giannis Antetokounmpo owned the Chicago Bulls​

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives past Chicago Bulls forward E.J. Liddell (32) in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

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Isaac Okoro started off defending Giannis, but his early foul trouble led the Bulls to ask Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis to handle the impossible assignment.

Buzelis struggled to neutralize the Giannis threat. Following the game, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that Giannis overwhelmed Chicago, especially in the fourth quarter when Milwaukee outscored the Bulls 41-30.

Donovan didn’t sugarcoat Buzelis’ defensive effort by offering a brutal assessment, calling Friday night a learning experience for the second-year forward. He wants to see more consistency from the 2024 first-round pick.

‘‘There’s been moments where he has a lot to learn, so to speak,’’ Donovan said to reporters after the game, via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times. ‘‘I think the defensive assignments, when he gets his length and keeps himself between his man and the basket, he’s been good.

“I think the consistency of that is something he’s working through.”

The Chicago Bulls need Matas Buzelis to develop​

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Buzelis had a strong night offensively, scoring 20 points. He added eight rebounds and three assists. His -2 on the court was tied with Patrick Williams for the best on the Bulls against the Bucks.

Donovan has seen growth from Buzelis and hopes he’ll get better before he faces Giannis later in the season.

‘‘Where he was a year ago today to where he is now is night and day,” Donovan said. “My hope is with the way he works and that mentality, that growth will continue.’’

Friday night was a humbling experience for the young team. Chicago will next travel to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night.

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) gets past Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) and to the basket during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-Imagn Images

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