The Chicago Bulls are trying to climb out of a long stretch of mediocrity, and ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins thinks the comparison that fits best is a harsh one.
On NBA on ESPN, Perkins drew a direct line between Chicago and Sacramento, saying, “The Chicago Bulls have been … the Sacramento Kings of the Eastern Conference,”
The comment came as Perkins discussed the Bulls with Malik Andrews and Jamal Collier, who had recently written an in-depth ESPN story on Chicago’s struggles. The backdrop is a franchise that has changed a lot in a short span, with Bryson Graham now leading a rebuild that has brought renewed optimism.
That optimism starts with the draft. Chicago selected Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick and added Dailyn Swain at No. 15, giving the team a young foundation to build around. The Bulls are also leaning on Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey as part of that core.
Perkins’ comparison also makes sense because the Kings have gone through plenty of the same churn. Sacramento acquired Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan from Chicago in a trade during this stretch, while also trying to piece together its own young group around Keegan Murray, Devin Carter, and Dylan Cardwell.
"The Chicago Bulls have been ... the Sacramento Kings of the Eastern Conference."@KendrickPerkins and @JamalCollier discuss the fall off and rebuilding of the Chicago Bulls 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ymt8mnsVFK
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 14, 2026
The bigger point is that both teams have lived in that frustrating middle ground - good enough to stay in the Play-In mix, not good enough to break through. Injuries and inconsistency have played a part for both franchises, too.
The results reflect that reality. Chicago went 31-51 last season, while Sacramento finished 22-60. The Bulls have not reached the postseason since 2022, and the Kings have been in the postseason since 2023.
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