Chicago Bulls’ Bench Was a Weapon Early-Now It’s a Liability
The Chicago Bulls came out of the gates swinging this season, racing to a 5-0 start that had fans buzzing and analysts re-evaluating their preseason expectations. But since then, things have taken a hard left.
Now sitting at 9-10, the Bulls have dropped three straight and seven of their last 10. The defense has been shaky, the offense inconsistent, and perhaps most surprisingly, the bench-the same unit that helped fuel that hot start-has gone ice cold.
From X-Factor to Afterthought
In the first 10 games of the season, Chicago’s bench was one of the best in the league. They were third in scoring, fifth in field goal percentage, sixth from beyond the arc, and fifth in plus/minus.
That’s not just productive-that’s elite. The second unit was playing with pace, confidence, and cohesion, often flipping games in the Bulls’ favor when the starters sat.
Fast forward to the last five games, and the picture looks very different. The bench now ranks 15th in scoring, 16th in field goal percentage, 26th in three-point shooting, and 28th in plus/minus. That’s a steep drop, and it’s showing up in the win-loss column.
Injuries Are Part of the Story-But Not the Whole Story
Yes, the Bulls have been banged up. Kevin Huerter, Jalen Smith, and Patrick Williams have all missed time recently, and the injury bug hasn’t spared the starters either.
But even with those absences, the bench hasn’t been able to maintain its early-season rhythm. The spark, the energy, the execution-it’s all dipped.
Take the recent 103-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers. The bench put up 30 points on 12-of-24 shooting, which looks fine on paper.
But dig a little deeper and you’ll see Tre Jones accounted for more than half of that, scoring 17 on 7-of-9 shooting. He was one of only four Bulls to finish with a positive plus/minus in the game.
That’s not a sustainable formula.
And it wasn’t a one-off. In the loss to the Charlotte Hornets before that, the bench was outplayed across the board.
Jones was again the only reserve with a positive plus/minus. Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu and Jalen Smith-both key contributors earlier in the season-finished at minus-21 and minus-19, respectively.
That kind of drop-off from your second unit makes it tough to win, especially in close games.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
So far this season, 38.1% of the Bulls’ total points have come from the bench-third-highest in the NBA. That stat alone tells you how vital the reserves are to this team’s identity.
When the bench is clicking, the Bulls can hang with just about anyone. When it’s not, they struggle to stay afloat.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t a team loaded with top-end star power. Without a true alpha in the starting lineup, Chicago relies on depth and balance more than most. That makes bench production not just important-it makes it essential.
Time for Adjustments
With Isaac Okoro working his way back from injury, there’s a real possibility Ayo Dosunmu moves back to a reserve role. Dosunmu is having a career year, no question, but his impact might be even greater leading the second unit. It’s a move that could stabilize the rotation and give the bench the shot in the arm it desperately needs.
Beyond that, there’s not a ton of wiggle room for head coach Billy Donovan. The roster is what it is.
But getting healthy and locking in the right rotation could go a long way toward restoring some rhythm and chemistry. And if the Bulls want to get back to the level they showed in those first five games, it starts with the bench finding its groove again.
Because for this team, the margin for error is slim. And when the bench is rolling, the Bulls are dangerous. When it’s not, they’re just another team trying to find answers.