When the Chicago Bulls traded for Jaden Ivey, they did so with the intention of exploring his compelling and untapped potential. That much was clear. What was revealed during his debut with the team, however, was that the Bulls intend to give him the minutes the Detroit Pistons never did in 2025-26.
In his first game with the Bulls, Ivey tied Matas Buzelis for the team-high of 33 minutes and shouldered a rather significant workload on both ends of the floor.
Ivey averaged just 16.8 minutes per game with the Pistons in 2025-26 after playing 29.9 in 2024-25, Injuries played a factor, of course, but the lack of consistent playing time had an inevitable impact on the quality that he displayed on the court.
In his first game with the Bulls, Ivey experienced no such issues as he posted 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, and three steals while committing just two turnovers.
In the first game all season during which Ivey played at least 30 minutes, he looked the part of the dynamic player many once believed him to be. He shot 5-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, making plays with the ball in his hands and finding seams in the defense without it.
If his Bulls debut is a sign of things to come, then it certainly seems as though head coach Billy Donovan views Ivey as a possible cornerstone of his team's offense.
Jaden Ivey gets big minutes, ample touches during Bulls debut
The Bulls ultimately fell 123-107 to the Toronto Raptors, but Ivey's audition for consistently significant minutes was tough to ignore. He made smart and timely decisions when hounded by All-World defender Scottie Barnes, exploited mismatches against the Raptors' weaker defenders, and trusted his teammates as though he'd been there for years.
More important to the big picture is the fact that Donovan trusted Ivey to not only create for himself, but get teammates involved by attacking in isolation and finding the open man.
It's unclear how Ivey will fit into the equation once Josh Giddey returns to the lineup, particularly in regard to who starts between he and Anfernee Simons. What was evident during his debut, however, was that Donovan doesn't intend to take the guarded approach that Detroit embraced in 2025-26.
Instead, the Bulls appear eager to give Ivey significant minutes, touches, and general opportunities to prove himself before restricted free agency comes calling this summer.