There’s a familiar cycle to Chicago Bulls basketball, one that swings from hopeless pessimism to hesitant optimism. Right now, Bulls fans are feeling the latter. Chicago has won four straight games, including impressive victories over the Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics.
The illusion of momentum
Still, the adjective hesitant is included for a reason. It doesn’t take a Bulls historian to recall Chicago’s seven-game losing streak from late November to early December. A stretch that included losses to the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, and New Orleans Pelicans.
No matter how much the Bulls win over the final half of the season, there will still be that pit in Bulls fans’ stomachs tied to the franchise’s aimless direction. Chicago went 15–5 to close the 2024–25 season, but the strong finish inspired little confidence because, at the end of the day, the Bulls are still the Bulls.
Chicago, like every team, has a vision. It’s just one that’s impossible to envision. Still, one thing is certain: the Bulls believe they’ve found their point guard of the future in Josh Giddey. Chicago signed Giddey to a four-year, $100 million contract this offseason, locking in the 23-year-old floor general. While $25 million annually is a significant investment, it pales in comparison to the rest of the league—every other team’s highest-paid player earns more. The next lowest figure belongs to Kristaps Porzingis, who is set to make $30.7 million.
Josh Giddey isn’t the franchise savior
All of this makes it clear that Giddey isn’t meant to be the face of the franchise—he’s not paid like it. And while his statistics are close to those of a true franchise player, the Bulls are clearly hoping for more. As Bulls beat reporter Joel Lorenzi put it when discussing Giddey and the team’s future, “I don’t think the vision for this team, or at least what it should be, he’s probably like the third-best player in that vision.”
Lorenzi is right, even as depressing as it may be: Giddey isn’t the face of the franchise. There isn’t much more you can ask for than 18.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game, but the Aussie has several glaring weaknesses that prevent him from reaching true best-player status. Players of a similar mold do exist. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, for example, is an offensive savant despite being a defensive liability. But Dončić’s offense is so otherworldly that his defense, or lack thereof, is largely beside the point. Giddey can’t claim that.
Sure, labeling a near–triple-double guy as a third-best player at 23 years old might feel pessimistic, but second-best certainly feels like Giddey’s ceiling. For the Bulls to achieve real success, they’ll need a true No. 1 option moving forward, someone who can get a bucket in isolation and be trusted late in games.
Don’t get me wrong, Giddey is a terrific talent and deserves to be mentioned among the NBA’s top passers. Unfortunately, the Bulls still don’t have a true face of the franchise to lean on. Matas Buzelis could become that player, but it’s far too early to say with any certainty. For now, Bulls fans are left banking on the draft or perhaps free agency to finally deliver the best player this team so clearly lacks.