Josh Giddey has been the catalyst for the Chicago Bulls' unbelievable 6-1 start to the 2025-26 NBA season, but he's far from the only contributor. Head Coach Billy Donovan's team is winning with a roster devoid of any stars (Giddey might have something to say about that right now), instead fielding one full of starters and high-level role players.
Just like executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas drew it up.
Giddey is playing at an All-Star level. Perhaps even an All-NBA level. Nikola Vucevic is having one of his best seasons as a pro, despite playing in his 15th NBA campaign at 35 years old. Matas Buzelis seems to be on his way to becoming a franchise cornerstone.
That trio may get the most headlines, but the Bulls are proving that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" isn't just a catchy phrase.
The Chicago Bulls are truly playing team basketball
When Giddey captured his 12th and final assist by setting up Vucevic to hit a game-winning 3-pointer -- and complete the largest comeback Chicago has mounted in five seasons -- it gave the Bulls their sixth win in seven games and the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Giddey added 29 points and 15 rebounds, giving him his second consecutive triple-double. He's etching his name in the franchise's record books alongside Michael Jordan. But he wasn't the only player who chipped in during Chicago's incredible comeback.
Vucevic continued his strong start by scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He has five double-doubles already this year. Isaac Okoro had his best game as a Bull, finishing with 16 points, five assists, two steals and a block. Jalen Smith had 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Kevin Huerter added 12 and Buzelis scored 10.
The win marked the seventh time (in seven games) at least six players scored in double figures, yet another franchise first this group has accomplished.
Playing together as a team 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aZta4gT8Kb
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 5, 2025
Giddey leads the Bulls in scoring at 23.1 points per game. Vucevic is averaging 19.3, Ayo Dosunmu 16.2, Buzelis 14.9, Huerter 12.9 and Tre Jones 11.6. Smith isn't far behind, posting 9.1 ppg. Eight players average at least 20 minutes.
Arturas Karnisovas's Bulls vision is becoming a reality
At the end of last season, Karnisovas turned some heads when discussing his strategy for building this iteration of the Bulls. He said, in part, "I think [there are] different structures that you can try to get to [a] championship. There’s 2-3 star players and then a lot of role players, or you can build it [with] 9-10 very good players. And I think now we’re leaning towards [having] a lot of solid, good players."
That, certainly, is an option to take. The Indiana Pacers made the NBA Finals last year with a deep group, but they had Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam leading it. Heading into this season, the Bulls lacked any player of that caliber. Giddey appears to be on his way there, but that was a hope last summer more than it was an expectation.
Maybe Karnisovas deserves more credit than he's getting, because Chicago's group of 9-10 good players has the team off to its best start since Jordan was fighting for his fifth ring.