“WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL to be really good. But we also have the potential to be really bad.”
So said Chicago newcomer Norman Powell, and thanks to that one no-bullshit take — the kind of thing you rarely hear from any professional athlete ever, let alone one who plays for a franchise known for its obfustication and delusion — the resurgent 33-year-old journeyman is now officially my favorite Bull.
We’re all well aware that Norm is 100% on point, so when the NBA schedule dropped last Thursday, Bulls Nation offered up a collective shrug. Because when you support a team that’s destined to finish at the top of the bottom, most of the 82 games on the schedule are equally meh.
This isn’t to say the 2026-27 Bulls won’t be worth a regular look.
Bouncy rookie Caleb Williams should be good for a couple of “holy crap” plays each night.
Josh Giddey is a triple-double in waiting, and with Russell Westbrook’s retirement, that’s barely a thing in today’s NBA.
Matas Buzelis might be legit. The key word being might.
Last season, my new favorite Bull was an All-Star, so let’s see if Norm’s career year was fluke.
It’ll be interesting to follow how first-year coach Tiago Splitter handles the rebuild…and the mounting losses.
Will VP of Basketball Ops Bryson Graham’s SLAP vision be realized? (Spoiler alert: If Rob Dillingham and Patrick Williams get significant minutes, probably not.)
Last season, I stopped regularly seeing red around January — this season, thanks to Wilson, I think I’ll make it to March. But here are six telecasts I’ll (almost) definitely check out, regardless of the day, week, or month.
(Editor’s note: This list was supposed to be ten games. Couldn’t get there.)
You watch Opening Night. You just do. As of this writing, the biggest question is, will that shady Kawhi Leonard dude be wearing Raptor purple, or will he be in a federal prison?
You watch the home opener. You just do. But this one would be worth a look regardless, as we’ll get to enjoy Caleb Wilson doing battle with fellow rookie AJ Dybantsa. Wilson, the fourth pick in the NBA Draft, firmly believes he’s way better than Dybantsa, the #1 selection. This’ll be a solid litmus test.
Three must-sees in one week? I know, shocking, but it’s the champs. Man, talk about a litmus test…
The Bulls’ second homer against the league’s best is one of their three nationally televised games. If you’re keeping score, that’s the second-fewest nationals in the league, behind the Nets, Bucks, Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Kings. Heady company.
Round two of the eagerly-anticipated center tussle between Victor Wembanyama and Nic Claxton.
I drag my daughter to one Bulls game a year. This one’s a Saturday afternoon clash against arguably the NBA’s sexiest team, thus it’ll be a tough ticket, but if my finances are in good shape, this might be the one.
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