With NBA 2K27 now out, the Chicago Bulls’ ratings are in, and the headline is pretty simple: no one on this roster cracked the 90s, or even the high 80s. The team landed at an 80 overall, which leaves them behind only Milwaukee, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Memphis, and Brooklyn.
At the top of the Bulls’ board, Norman Powell and Josh Giddey are tied at 84. Powell’s place there makes sense after his first All-Star season. He’s the veteran the Bulls can trust to space the floor, guard his position, and handle pressure possessions when the game tightens up late.
Giddey’s 84 feels like a nod to the strongest year of his career. He enters 2026-27 two spots higher than he was to start 2025-26, and the jump appears tied in large part to his improved three-point shot, which is now rated at 79. He hit 36.4 percent of his threes on a career-high 5.2 attempts per game, enough to make defenses respect him when he’s spotting up or racing into open space in transition.
Matas Buzelis comes next at 81, making his first trip into the 80 club. He also moved up two spots from where he opened last season, and for a player heading into Year 3, that’s a solid starting point.
Still, the way he finished last season suggests there may be more room for that number to climb. Buzelis was one of the team’s main scoring outlets, finishing around the basket in transition and off the dribble, while also showing off his weak-side rim protection.
Stronger forwards gave him trouble at times, but the shot-blocking keeps trending up.
Caleb Wilson is the rookie name to watch, and 2K opened his NBA career at 77. That’s respectable, but it probably won’t do much to cool him off.
AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer all checked in at 79 overall, and Wilson already has reason to feel he belonged in that same range after essentially outplaying all three in Summer League. His shooting grade is even lower, with a 65 from deep, just one point above Nicolas Claxton.
That’s a tough number for a player whose shot was the biggest question coming into the league, though Wilson did show promise with a 40+ percent effort in Las Vegas.
Dailyn Swain is another rookie with something to prove. The No. 15 pick sits at 71 overall, which leaves him behind second-year forward Noa Essengue and guard Rob Dillingham. That rating lines up with where most mid-first-round picks landed, and after his Summer League showing, Swain still looks like a player who will need time to settle in.
Tre Jones also earned a closer look, and his number moved in the right direction. He jumped three points to 79 after a strong season as Giddey’s backup, where he stood out as one of the league’s more efficient distributors.
He also gave the Bulls real value as a driver, shooting 55.3 percent from the field and coming through with timely fourth-quarter baskets. With the Bulls making so few changes in the backcourt this offseason, Jones should again have a major role for Tiago Splitter’s group.
Here’s the full Bulls list from NBA 2K27: Norman Powell 84, Josh Giddey 84, Matas Buzelis 81, Nicolas Claxton 80, Tre Jones 79, Caleb Wilson 77, Jalen Smith 76, Zach Collins 75, Isaac Okoro 75, Patrick Williams 74, Leonard Miller 74, Rob Dillingham 73, Noa Essengue 72, Dailyn Swain 71, Tobe Awaka 68, and Jalin Sellers 68.
In Other News...
Bulls Just Got A New Threat In The Draft Pick Market
The latest wrinkle in the leagues draft-pick market comes out of Los Angeles, where the Clippers have been hit hard by the NBA for salary cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard. The penalties are significant, including suspensions for top team executives, and they come at a time when roster flexibility and future assets already matter more than ever around the league.
For the Bulls, the bigger takeaway is how a shorthanded Clippers front office might approach the trade market now. When a team loses draft capital and starts reshaping its roster, it often looks for new ways to restock, which can tighten the competition for the kinds of picks Chicago has been trying to value carefully. There is also a Leonard-related trade in the background that could further reshape what Los Angeles needs next, keeping the Bulls on alert as the market shifts. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Final Roster Spot Could Spark A Risky Lakers Opportunity
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One name that has come up in that conversation is Lakers forward Jake LaRavia, which makes the idea intriguing for a Bulls team trying to balance value and upside. LaRavia brings defensive playmaking and some bench scoring, but there are real questions about his size, rebounding and shooting efficiency, the kind of concerns that can turn a sensible depth move into a risk if Chicago decides to get aggressive. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Giddey Sees One Big Reason Bulls Could Push Forward
Josh Giddey sounded encouraged by the Bulls offseason work, pointing to a roster that looks deeper and a little more balanced heading into the new season. Chicago has added Norman Powell, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain and Nic Claxton, and Giddey liked the mix enough to suggest the group has a real chance to push into the playoff conversation.
Powell, in particular, gives the Bulls a proven scorer and veteran presence, and Giddey believes that kind of addition matters on a team trying to take a step forward. He also sees a bigger opening for Matas Buzelis in the rotation, which adds another layer to Chicagos outlook as the Bulls try to turn a busy summer into something that shows up in the standings. [Read more 🡒]