The Chicago Bulls weren't supposed to be here. After a third consecutive season ending in the Play-In Tournament, expectations for the 2025-26 season were understandably low. Not many anticipated much from a roster that has spent the last half-decade stuck directly in the middle of the standings.
Yet, more than a week into the regular season, the Bulls remain one of just four undefeated teams at 4-0. Billy Donovan has finally created a competitive advantage with the personnel that have been sitting right beside him all along... the bench.
From weakness to strength
Chicago's second unit has quickly transformed from a liability into a legitimate weapon, and the numbers back it up. Last season, the Bulls’ bench ranked 14th in scoring at just 36 points per game, with mediocre efficiency. Four games into this season, that same group is averaging 48 points per game, good for third-best in the league. And it’s not just due to volume; the quality has skyrocketed, too.
Their field goal percentage has jumped from 44.5 to 49.3 percent, three-point shooting improved from 33.5 to 37.3 percent, and true shooting has climbed from 55.8 to an impressive 60.8 percent. While it may not seem drastic at first glance, the Bulls’ bench is essentially adding another full player’s worth of scoring each game on just six additional shots as a unit.
Individual success driving collective achievement
This transformation is coming as a result of the growth of several key bench members. Ayo Dosunmu is off to a career-best start with 14.8 points per game, continuing the gradual development he’s shown since entering the league.
Kevin Huerter, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, has matched Dosunmu's production with 14.8 points, the second-highest total of his eight-year career.
Then there’s Patrick Williams, who appears to have finally put it all together, just not to the level we were all expecting. While his averages are similar to past seasons, his efficiency has exploded. Williams is shooting 54.2 percent from the field, an impressive 15 percent jump from last year, while also shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc.
Billy Donovan's strategic adjustments
What makes the bench even more dangerous this season is Donovan’s rotation tweaks. He now spreads minutes across more players in shorter bursts, keeping everyone fresh and maintaining an uptempo style that wears opponents down. The starters set the tone with intensity and physicality, then Chicago’s depth comes in and capitalizes on their opponents while they're down.
This approach is exactly what Arturas Karnisovas envisioned at last year’s trade deadline: “I think there's different structures that you can try to get to a championship.," he explained. "There’s two or three stars and a lot of role players, or you can build it with 9-10 very good players, and I think now we're leaning toward having a lot of solid, good players.”
As much as fans would all hate to admit it, Karnisovas’ philosophy seems to be paying off early. While other teams rely heavily on their top players, the Bulls are winning through depth and balance.
Ultimately, it’s only four games into an 82-game season, so the sample size is small. But what the Bulls have shown so far feels like more than early-season luck or a hot start. This strategy is not only working on a game-to-game basis, but it will also help keep the roster fresh deep into the grind of a long season.