When you think of dynamic backcourts in the NBA, the Chicago Bulls might not be the first team that comes to mind. But if you’ve been paying attention, there’s a new guard pairing quietly making noise in the Windy City-and it’s not the one you might expect.
Last season, the Bulls took a bit of a gamble by leaning into a dual-point guard setup with Josh Giddey and Tre Jones. On paper, the pairing looked redundant-two ball-handlers who thrive with the rock in their hands, neither known for elite shooting.
But the results? Surprisingly effective.
The Bulls posted a 122.1 offensive rating with both on the floor, slicing up defenses with relentless drives and a steady diet of rim pressure. It was an unorthodox approach, but it worked.
Fast forward to the present, and the Giddey-Jones experiment has cooled off. The duo still holds a positive net rating (plus-2.4), but the offensive efficiency has taken a noticeable dip, now sitting at 110.8. That’s a significant drop from last year’s mark, and it reflects a shift in how the Bulls are playing.
One of the biggest changes? Pace.
Last season, Giddey and Jones operated with a deliberate tempo-101.61 possessions per 48 minutes. This year, that number has jumped to 110.25, which is the second-fastest among Bulls lineups that have logged at least 100 minutes.
That uptick in speed hasn’t translated to the same level of offensive cohesion, and the once-surprising duo is starting to look a bit less potent.
But while one Jones-led pairing has faded, another has stepped into the spotlight-and it’s turning heads for all the right reasons.
Enter: Tre Jones and Coby White.
Among the 44 Bulls lineups that have played at least 100 minutes together, none has been more effective than this one. The Jones-White duo boasts a staggering plus-16.7 net rating, tops on the team.
They’re also second in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating among qualifying lineups. In short, they’re getting it done on both ends.
What makes this pairing so intriguing is how different it looks from last year’s Giddey-Jones setup. The pace is fast-blisteringly so. The Bulls are flying up and down the floor when Jones and White share the court, abandoning the methodical, pass-heavy style that defined the previous backcourt experiment.
And here’s where it gets even more interesting: despite playing with two guards, this lineup ranks near the bottom in assist percentage-41st out of 44 qualifying duos. That might sound like a red flag, but it actually tells us something important about how they’re operating.
Jones and White aren’t relying on ball movement to create offense-they’re putting pressure on defenses by attacking downhill, making quick reads, and getting to their spots with purpose. The result?
They lead all Bulls lineups in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage. That’s efficiency born from decisiveness, not necessarily from traditional playmaking.
Their shot profile is balanced-no heavy lean toward threes, midrange, or paint touches. But two stats jump off the page: 19.1% of their points come from the free throw line, and 18.0% come off turnovers.
Both marks rank third among Bulls lineups with at least 100 minutes. That tells you everything you need to know about their mindset.
They’re aggressive, they’re opportunistic, and they’re constantly putting pressure on the defense-whether it’s in transition, off steals, or by simply getting downhill and drawing contact.
This duo might not fit the mold of a traditional backcourt, but that’s exactly what makes it work. Coby White brings scoring punch and a quick trigger, while Tre Jones provides control, perimeter defense, and just enough playmaking to keep things moving. Together, they cover for each other’s weaknesses and amplify each other’s strengths.
In a league that often prizes fit and spacing above all else, the Jones-White pairing is a reminder that sometimes, chemistry and complementary skill sets can outweigh conventional wisdom. Head coach Billy Donovan’s system values pace, pressure, and smart decision-making-and this duo checks all those boxes.
It’s still early, but the numbers are hard to ignore. The Bulls may have stumbled onto something special with Tre Jones and Coby White. And if they can keep this up, it might be time to stop thinking of them as a surprise-and start seeing them as a legitimate foundation for the Bulls’ backcourt moving forward.