Following their 124–102 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Chicago Bulls improved to 20–22 on the season. Coby White led the way with 24 points, knocking down seven three-pointers, while Ayo Dosunmu added 19 off the bench. Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis each chipped in 17.
Still, one performance arguably stood out more than the rest. Jalen Smith, making another start, finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, recording his third straight double-double. Moreover, Chicago is now 20–15 when Smith plays this season and remains winless in games he’s missed.
From underwhelming to essential
The sixth-year big man is enjoying a resurgent season in Chicago following a largely forgettable first year in the Windy City. After arriving as the Bulls’ marquee free-agent signing of the 2024 offseason, Smith initially failed to live up to expectations. While his counting stats nearly mirrored previous seasons, his three-point shooting dipped to 32.4 percent—a notable drop from his 2023-24 campaign with the Indiana Pacers. Additionally, Chicago was 0.8 points worse per 100 possessions with Smith on the floor last season.
Entering the 2025–26 season, it appeared Smith would open the year third on the depth chart behind Vucevic and Zach Collins, who had excelled in Chicago following a midseason trade. However, Collins began the season sidelined with an injury, thrusting Smith into a larger role. After a strong start, albeit in limited action, Billy Donovan gradually entrusted Smith with more responsibility, later realizing that the 6-foot-9 big man was essential to improving the Bulls on both ends of the floor.
A good problem for Billy Donovan
On the season, Smith is averaging 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.4 three-pointers in 18.7 minutes per game. In January alone, the Maryland product has boosted those numbers to 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 triples per contest, recording double-doubles in four of seven games. Perhaps most importantly, the Bulls are 11.9 points per 100 possessions better this season with Smith on the floor.
Smith’s stellar play has left Chicago with a welcome dilemma. Already flush with starting-caliber options across the roster, Billy Donovan now has yet another player who merits serious consideration in the opening five. Smith fits nicely alongside Vucevic, providing floor spacing on offense while adding rim protection and physicality on the defensive end. His presence also allows Buzelis to slide down to the three, which is a more natural role for the 6-foot-9, 200-pound wing.
Even so, Smith’s run as a starter may be short-lived. Josh Giddey is expected to return soon from the hamstring strain he suffered in late December, creating another lineup crunch for Billy Donovan. While there’s a strong case for keeping Smith in the starting five upon Giddey’s return, there isn’t an obvious candidate to move to the bench. Isaac Okoro is the most logical option, but the 6-foot-5 forward’s value as a point-of-attack defender makes reducing his role a difficult sell. As a result, Smith may ultimately slide back into a reserve role, though his impact suggests that wouldn’t be a bad problem for Chicago to have.
Smith makes Vucevic more movable
Lastly, Smith’s emergence doesn’t just create a lineup conundrum—it makes the player starting ahead of him more expendable than ever. While Vucevic remains reliable, averaging 17.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in his age-35 season, the Bulls can now trade him with confidence, knowing Smith can step in seamlessly.
Smith’s rise this season has been quiet but transformative. From a middling free-agent signing to a player capable of anchoring Chicago’s frontcourt, he has not only forced Donovan to rethink rotations but also given the Bulls newfound flexibility with roster decisions. His emergence makes the starting lineup stronger, the bench deeper, and even turns one of the team’s most reliable veterans into a movable asset. Simply put, Smith hasn’t just improved the Bulls on the court; he’s changed the trajectory of the roster off it, giving Chicago a strategic advantage heading into the second half of the season.