Bulls Fans Hit Their Breaking Point as Chicago’s Slide Continues
Sunday night at the United Center felt less like a professional basketball game and more like a warning siren echoing through the rafters. The Chicago Bulls dropped their seventh game in their last eight, falling 114-104 to the New Orleans Pelicans-a team that’s only managed five wins all season, with two of them now coming at Chicago’s expense.
The Bulls, who once teased fans with a promising 6-1 start, now sit at 10-15 through their first 25 games. And while the standings paint a bleak picture, the real story might be what’s happening off the court-namely, in the stands.
A Fan Base That’s Seen Enough
The United Center has long been one of the NBA’s most electric arenas. Even in down years, Chicago fans show up.
They’re loyal, loud, and deeply invested. But Sunday told a different story.
By the fourth quarter, what was once a packed house had thinned into a sparse, silent crowd. The energy was gone.
The message? Loud and clear: Bulls fans are done watching the same mistakes play out year after year.
One moment summed it up perfectly-fans breaking into a “Green Bay sucks” chant during a sluggish second quarter. That’s not just frustration; that’s a crowd looking for anything to cheer about. When your team’s performance is so uninspiring that the highlight of the night is a jab at a football rival, something’s broken.
And it’s not just about one game. The fans’ apathy is the result of a decade of dysfunction.
From inconsistent roster construction to questionable draft picks and coaching decisions, the Bulls have struggled to find any kind of identity. Sunday night felt like a tipping point.
A Franchise in Freefall
Let’s be real: the Bulls haven’t been right for a while. And while there’s no single culprit, the issues are layered and familiar-poor rim protection, sloppy turnovers, stagnant offense, and a lack of development from young players. But beyond the X’s and O’s, the problems run deeper, into the front office and ownership.
Despite being a top-five team in revenue and attendance over the past five years, Chicago has made just one playoff appearance in that span. That’s a staggering disconnect between fan support and on-court results. And with the team trending toward another postseason miss, the pressure is mounting.
Ownership has become a central point of fan frustration. Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owns the White Sox, has faced increasing criticism for the direction of both franchises. Bulls fans are asking a fair question: how does a team in a market this big, with this much support, continue to underachieve so consistently?
Time Running Out for Donovan and Karnisovas?
Head coach Billy Donovan is now among the longest-tenured coaches in Bulls history, but the results haven’t followed. Of the five coaches who’ve led the team for 300+ games, Donovan holds the lowest winning percentage. The others at least brought playoff success-Donovan has just one postseason appearance and a single playoff win to his name.
And yet, he remains in charge.
Executive VP Arturas Karnisovas hasn’t fared much better. His draft history is already under fire, with the selection of Patrick Williams over players like Tyrese Maxey and Tyrese Haliburton standing out as a major misstep. This past draft, he took Noa Essengue over Derik Queen-another move that’s raising eyebrows as the season unfolds.
The lack of accountability is what stings most for fans. There’s a sense that mediocrity has become acceptable, as long as the seats are filled and the revenue keeps flowing. But Sunday’s crowd-or lack thereof-might be the first sign that things are starting to shift.
What Comes Next?
Chicago sports fans are as passionate as they come. They’ve endured rebuilds with the Cubs and Bears, and now those franchises are starting to show signs of life.
The Bulls? Still stuck in neutral.
And that comparison only makes the current state of the team more frustrating.
The Bulls have the infrastructure to be a perennial contender: a major market, a loyal fan base, and a proud history. But until there’s a real shake-up at the top-whether in the front office, on the bench, or higher up-it’s hard to see a path forward.
Sunday night wasn’t just another loss. It was a statement.
The fans are tired. They’ve waited patiently.
They’ve shown up. But now, they’re walking out.
And if the message wasn’t clear before, it should be now: something has to change.