The 2025-26 VSiN NBA Betting Guide was released on Tuesday, October 7. The 79-page publication features best bets from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts, betting strategy advice from Jonathan Von Tobel and Kelley Bydlon, and trends/insights from Steve Makinen. The guide also features team-by-team previews for all 30 NBA teams, including one on the Chicago Bulls. Keep reading to see how we think the Bulls will do compared to their regular season win total of 38.5.
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Offense
The Bulls finished bottom-10 in adjusted offensive rating (113.0) last season, and the foursome of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic managed just 112.9 points per 100 possessions together. That’s a problem considering three of those names are supposed to be the future. Chicago would love to move on from Vucevic, but the market has made that nearly impossible.
The bright side: Billy Donovan still has Kevin Huerter, and that group scored 121.4 points per 100 possessions with him. “Red Velvet” knocked down 37.6% of his threes in 26 games, giving Chicago some much-needed spacing.
The Bulls also played the right way. They ranked third in three-point attempts per game (42.0) and shot a respectable 36.7% on those tries. That’s a huge shift for a franchise that once lived in the mid-range area. Chicago also kept turnovers in check (14.1%) while playing at the league’s second-fastest pace (103.7). It’s clear Donovan wants to leverage this team’s youth and athleticism by pushing the tempo.
Oddly enough, everything starts with Giddey, who inked a four-year, $100 million extension after being acquired for Alex Caruso. He averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists last year, with the boards and assists both career highs. He also shot a career-best 37.8% from three. Giddey’s size and vision make him one of the league’s top passers, but defenses will keep daring him to shoot until he proves to be consistent from deep.
White complements him well. While Giddey is pass-first, White is a gunner. He averaged 20.4 points per game last season and hit 37.0% from deep on 7.9 attempts per game. White takes tough shots, makes plenty of them, and at 25 the Bulls are hoping there’s still another leap to come.
The wild card is Buzelis. At 6-foot-10 with length and athleticism, he flashes star potential with highlight dunks and confident self-creation. The next step is polish, and proving he can shoot near 40% from deep long-term.
Chicago also added Noa Essengue with the 12th pick in 2025. Expectations are modest for this year, but his athleticism and developing perimeter game make him an intriguing long-term fit alongside Buzelis.
In the meantime, Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams will see heavy minutes. Dosunmu offers reliable shooting, secondary playmaking, and a low-maintenance role. Williams, however, needs to rediscover his shot. After hitting 39.9% from three in 2023-24, he slipped to 35.3% last year. With a big extension already signed, Chicago needs tangible development.
The bench is solid, though not spectacular. Tre Jones is a steady backup point guard, Dalen Terry and Isaac Okoro bring energy but shaky shooting, and Jalen Smith and Zach Collins add size with a bit of floor spacing.
This won’t be a great offense, but the core pieces give Donovan enough to push toward league average.
Defense
Chicago finished 19th in adjusted defensive rating (115.1) last season, which actually undersells the job Donovan did. With Giddey, White, and Vucevic all defensive liabilities, keeping this team afloat was impressive. After the All-Star break, the Bulls ranked 10th in raw defensive rating (111.7) and flirted with top-five over that stretch.
Defending the three became a late-season strength. Over the final 27 games, opponents shot just 34.3% from deep. The question is whether Chicago can sustain that over a full year. Given how easily Giddey and White can be beaten off the dribble, and Vucevic’s lack of rim protection, keeping that number on the lower end will be crucial.
There are good individual defenders here. Dosunmu is tough on the perimeter, Buzelis has length and athleticism, and role players like Jones, Okoro, and Williams like to guard. Essengue projects as versatile with the ability to guard multiple positions. Jevon Carter is also still around, a relentless pest who loves picking up full court.
On paper, this team has no business approaching top-10 defensive numbers. But Donovan has a track record of overachievement, and this group competes.
Outlook
The Bulls have been stuck in NBA purgatory: 40-42 in 2022-23, 39-43 in 2023-24, and 39-43 again last year. Each season ended the same way — eliminated by Miami in the Play-In. Too good to bottom out, not good enough to contend.
At least Chicago has finally started turning the page. DeMar DeRozan left last offseason, Zach LaVine was dealt at the deadline, and now Vucevic is the last man standing. Once he’s gone, the Bulls will be fully committed to their younger players and positioned with real cap flexibility.
Still, even in transition, the Bulls feel undervalued. The win total is set at 32.5, but Donovan has won at least 39 games in nine of his 10 NBA seasons. The lone exception was his first year in Chicago — a lockout-shortened season that still produced 31 wins.
If Donovan has a competent roster, he can win games. And this is a competent roster.
Prediction: Over 32.5 Wins
