NBA mediocrity isn’t all bad.
After all, Christmases off. And then there’s the idea of avoiding the pressure of nationally televised games week after week or being scrutinized by all the talking heads on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
No, not bad at all.
Just a lot of Adam and Stacey, Chuck and Big Bill Wennington, doing the best they can to push a stagnant product, while the seats at the United Center stay filled and the Jordan statue remains a must-have photo op.
Ah yes, and just like that, with the release of the 2025-26 NBA regular-season schedule on Thursday, Bulls basketball is returning in all its underwhelming glory. A path back to the play-in tournament has been charted.
First things first, a wake-up-call opening night for the Bulls, hosting up-and-coming Detroit at the United Center on Oct. 22, with the Bulls at least starting out the year with some home cooking by playing five of their first seven games in Chicago.
The two grindy moments for the Bulls will come in late January and late March thanks to two five-game road trips, and just in case they are in contention for something meaningful, thank the NBA for scheduling Phoenix and two games in Washington in the final week of the regular season.
The Bulls will be on national television just three times, playing at Orlando on Peacock Dec. 1, at Brooklyn on ESPN Jan. 16, and at Toronto on Amazon Prime on Feb. 5. No national games at home.
And as far as the ending of the 2025-26 campaign, they will host the Magic on April 10, and then finish down in Dallas against heralded rookie Cooper Flagg on April 12.
Here is a look at the five most pivotal games for the Bulls this season:
Oct. 31 – New York at Bulls
One of the few organizations more dysfunctional than the Bulls comes to town on Halloween night, tipping off the first in-season tournament pool play game. Very fitting that it’s on Halloween night, considering the Knicks have been trying to disguise themselves as a functional front office in the wake of firing successful coach Tom Thibodeau and riding through an offseason clown show in finally hiring Mike Brown to be the new coach.
Nov. 10 – San Antonio at Bulls
Call this game the quick breath before re-submerging. While the season opens up with Bulls players getting some serious sleep time in their own beds, it quickly turns on Nov. 7 with a back-to-back in Milwaukee and Cleveland. Coach Billy Donovan brings the crew back home for a Monday night game against Victor Wembanyama and the young — but talented Spurs — and then right back to the suitcases with a four-game cross-country tour in Detroit, Utah, Denver and Portland. Better take advantage of that San Antonio game.
Dec. 7 – Golden State at Bulls
Anytime Steph Curry comes to the Second City it’s an event. And he’s got a few friends with him, starting with former Bulls two-way standout Jimmy Butler. Could this also be an opportunity for the Warriors to get another look at Nikola Vucevic and how he might fit on their team by the trade deadline? Sure, why not.
Feb. 5 – Bulls at Toronto
Why would a cold day in Canada even mean anything for the Bulls? Because it could be a new-look roster by that evening. The NBA trade deadline falls on Feb. 5 this upcoming season, and count on the Bulls at least trying to be active leading up to it. Plus, their only game on Amazon Prime this year.
April 1 – Indiana at Bulls
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas somehow has himself fooled that his roster is very comparable to the way the Pacers are built out. Sure. Why not have a laugh about it on April Fool’s Day.
