The Chicago Bulls have been the NBA's biggest surprise of the 2025-26 season. Analysts and sportsbooks both had this team taking its lumps this season, securing a good position in the draft lottery, and missing the playoffs by a wide margin. Through seven games, the complete opposite has happened. This group is 6-1, first place in the Eastern Conference, and only one of three teams with one or fewer losses. While most remain skeptical of the Bulls' legitimacy when it comes to playoff time, a few underlying facts from the early stages suggest that this team is more than just a flash in the pan. Here are two reasons the 2025-26 Chicago Bulls are not just lightning in a bottle, but a sustainable championship contender.
Largest Comeback In Four Years
Through the first four games of undefeated play, the majority of basketball fans attributed the Bulls' success to the opposition's failures, not Chicago's successes. Historically poor three-point shooting, abysmal transition defense, and some weak outings from the opposition's star players were cited as reasons why the Bulls remained unscathed. While those things might be true, two games in the last six days have withstood the test of separating a lucky streak from a formidable and dangerous club. Last Friday night, they hosted the New York Knicks in the first NBA Cup pool play game. These matchups bring a little more excitement than the typical regular season, and the Knicks were a top-end Eastern Conference contender a year ago, entering the game with a fully healthy lineup. Despite the odds, Chicago controlled the entire 48 minutes and shocked much of the NBA world with a win.
Josh Giddey is already proving that he’s well worth the four-year, $100M deal that he signed with the Bulls this offseason.
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) November 1, 2025
32 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists in the win over the Knicks tonight. Chicago is 5-0 for the first time since the 1996-97 season. pic.twitter.com/o9d3YWfMv0
Tuesday night, after trailing by 18 points after one quarter, 19 points after two quarters, and by as much as 24 points in the game, the Bulls completed their most significant come-from-behind victory since 2021. Keep in mind the Philadelphia 76ers were also tied atop the Eastern Conference with Chicago before this meeting. Today, the Bulls are leading the East, with wins against two of the top contenders in the conference. It's getting increasingly difficult to argue the legitimacy of this team.
Rare Air In The Franchise Record Books
Not only have the Bulls bested two of the league's top teams on route to a 6-1 start to the year, but they're doing so in ways never seen before. Their 5-0 start was the first time they had been undefeated through five games in 19 years. Josh Giddey's back-to-back triple-doubles over Chicago's last two games stand alone with Michael Jordan as the only players in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
Perhaps the most impressive statistic that the Bulls can boast this season is the diversity in scoring. For the first time in the organization's illustrious history, they've had six or more players score ten or more points in seven straight games. This is even more unthinkable considering it's the first seven games of the season!
Playing together as a team 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aZta4gT8Kb
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 5, 2025
Chicago's widespread offensive juggernaut is creating a problem for the opposition. With the array of capable and willing playmakers and bucket-getters on this roster, each night features a new hero. Don't forget, this is without their leading scorer over the last two seasons, Coby White. Once he arrives, their offense will add another layer of danger for opposing clubs to dissect.
The two victories over top-end teams this week, the unpredictable yet consistent offensive attack, and the will to fight back from a 24-point deficit on Wednesday night all show that the 2025-26 Chicago Bulls are here to stay and will be competing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
