Jalen Smith Is Quietly Powering the Bulls’ Midseason Surge
The Chicago Bulls are quietly heating up. Winners of four straight and finally above .500 for the first time since Thanksgiving, there’s a lot to like about what’s happening in the Windy City.
Coby White’s resurgence and Matas Buzelis’ steady growth have drawn plenty of attention - and rightfully so. But if you’re looking for the engine behind Chicago’s recent turnaround, look no further than Jalen Smith.
Yes, that Jalen Smith - the former top-10 pick who never quite stuck in Phoenix and bounced around Indiana before landing in Chicago. Now in his second season with the Bulls, Smith is carving out a role that’s not just meaningful - it’s essential.
Let’s rewind a bit. Earlier this season, the Bulls’ interior defense was a mess.
During their five- and seven-game losing streaks, they were bleeding points in the paint, allowing the third-most in the league through December 15. With Zach Collins sidelined due to a broken wrist, Smith was pressed into duty as the starting center.
The results? Inconsistent.
Smith and Nikola Vucevic were stretched thin as the last line of defense, and opposing guards had little resistance getting to the rim.
But everything changed once Collins returned - even if only briefly. His presence gave head coach Billy Donovan the flexibility to tinker with double-big lineups, pairing two of Collins, Vucevic, and Smith together.
And while Collins’ return was short-lived due to a toe sprain, the silver lining was clear: the Vucevic-Smith tandem worked. Really well.
Smith, now stronger and more confident, has found his groove. The 6-foot-10 big man, nicknamed “Stix,” has added nearly 30 pounds to his frame since entering the league in 2020 - up from 215 to 244 - and that added muscle is paying off.
He’s no longer the tweener who couldn’t quite find a home at either the ‘4’ or the ‘5.’ Now, he’s thriving in a hybrid role that leans into his strengths.
“Usually when we've had the one-big lineup, we've been scoring a lot in the paint, and we've been out-rebounded a lot,” Smith said after a recent shootaround. “With two bigs out there, it deters a lot of guards from wanting to come into the paint. Obviously, they're still going to attack it, but it gives them that wall, that force that they've got to go through.”
That “wall” is making a real difference. In 178 non-garbage time minutes this season with Smith and Vucevic sharing the floor, the Bulls are outscoring opponents by 8.5 points per 100 possessions.
That’s a better net rating than lineups featuring just Smith (+7.2), just Vucevic (-5.6), or just Collins (-7.3) at center. The numbers back up what the eye test is already telling us: this pairing works.
Smith and Vucevic are both pick-and-pop threats, which stretches defenses and creates mismatches. “I feel like our games complement each other,” Smith said.
“Obviously, both of us are pick-and-pop threats. He's more pick-and-pop than pick-and-roll.
I can do a little bit as well. But I feel as though it spreads the defense out a lot more.
It causes matchups where they put a guard on Vooch and a big on me, or vice versa. We're able to work around that and leave our offense to the guards to get them more space.”
Since December 15, the Bulls are 13-7 - the third-best record in the league over that span - and Smith’s impact has been undeniable. In January, he’s averaging 12.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game.
All would be career highs if stretched over a full season. He’s started eight of his last 11 games, with the Bulls going 8-3 in that stretch.
He’s also scored in double figures in seven straight.
This is, without question, the most significant role Smith has held in his six-year NBA career. And he’s embracing it. With the trade deadline looming and the Bulls potentially at a crossroads, Smith has emerged as a stabilizing force - a player who’s not just filling a gap, but helping redefine the team’s identity.
“It’s fun,” Smith said of the responsibility. And right now, it sure looks like he’s having a blast - and making the most of a long-awaited opportunity.