With a new NBA season kicking off in a little under two months, we took a look at what should be the most exciting Chicago Bulls’ games this season.
Good news Chicago Bulls’ fans.
In a little over 50 days the NBA will be back in full swing and the new-and-improved Chicago Bulls with Jabari Parker, Wendell Carter Jr and a healthy Zach Lavine will begin their season on the road against Philadelphia.
With the new season quickly approaching, let’s take a look at what games Bulls fans should look forward to this year.
1. October 20th v Detroit Pistons – Home Opener
The home opener is exciting for every NBA franchise, but for Bulls’ fans it’s something really special. Watching that intro video and hearing, “Annnnd now the starting lineup for your Chicago Bulls” over the PA followed by the screams of 20,000 fans.
I don’t know about you, but for me, it doesn’t really feel like a new season until that happens, and this year the Bulls will play Blake Griffin and the Detroit Pistons in their first action at the United Center.
The 39-win Pistons missed the playoffs a year ago, so this should serve as a nice measuring stick for what to expect from this year’s squad. It’ll also be the first time Bulls’ fans get a look at the new hometown kid, Jabari Parker, in action.
2. November 16th @ Milwaukee Bucks – Jabari Returns to Milwaukee
This is a game Jabari Parker definitely has circled on his calendar. He was drafted 2nd overall by the Bucks in 2014 and was poised to be a key building block in their return to prominence, but two ACL injuries and the emergence of Giannis Antetokounmpo left Parker on the outside looking in.
It’s no secret Parker left Milwaukee on a bit of a sour note after they rescinded their qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. You can bet Jabari will be looking for his revenge when he goes back to Milwaukee for the first time.
3. November 23rd v Miami Heat – DWade Returns to Chicago
It’s been two seasons since ‘the Dwayne Wade as a Chicago Bull’ experiment crashed and burned, leaving the Bulls in a worse position than before he arrived. Wade’s childhood ties to Chicago always makes his return to the city one to definitely get up for.
It’s still not 100% clear whether DWade will play this season, but if he does, expect for him to be in a Heat uniform and at his best when he comes to play the Bulls.
4. December 26th v Minnesota Timberwolves – Thibs, Rose, Gibson, & Butler Back at the United Center
Ever since former Bulls’ coach Tom Thibodeau was fired by the Bulls and hired as the President and Head Coach of the Timberwolves, he’s signed Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, and traded for Jimmy Butler, all former Bulls, making Minnesota an instant rival.
They’ll face off the day after Christmas in Chicago, and the holiday season always makes for some really exciting NBA games, so this one should definitely live up to the hype. It’ll also only be the second time Zach Lavine’s faced his former team, last time they met he torched the Wolves for 35 points in a 114-113 victory for the Bulls.
5. March 12th v Lakers – LeBron James’ 1st trip to UC as a Laker
This game doesn’t have any real significance aside from the chance to see LeBron James, but that’s enough to get any fanbase excited.
This time LeBron will be sporting his new purple and gold colors and be in the Western Conference on March 12th when he makes his first trip to the United Center as a Laker.
It’ll be a rematch of their January 15th matchup in Los Angeles and could have playoff implications. It’ll also be the only chance for Bulls fans to see LeBron next season, so expect it to be a pretty big deal.