Josh Giddey believes the Chicago Bulls have enough talent to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but he identified consistency as the biggest factor in determining whether the team can turn that confidence into results.
“It’s obviously a pretty loaded conference,” Giddey told ClutchPoints. “But I think we’ve got a good mix: veterans, young guys, guys that have been there before and experienced playoff basketball, guys that are hungry to get there.”
Giddey added that he is “comfortable with what we have in the locker room” and believes Chicago has “more than enough to be competitive in this league and be a playoff team.”
The Bulls finished 31-51 last season, 12th in the Eastern Conference, and were eliminated from postseason contention. Their 31 victories were 14 fewer than the 45 wins recorded by both Philadelphia and Orlando, which secured the final two direct playoff spots.
Giddey acknowledged that Chicago’s biggest issue last season was its inability to maintain a consistent level of play throughout the schedule.
“We went through stretches where we looked like a really really good team, then we looked went through stretches where we didn’t look like a good team,” Giddey said. “So being able to be consistent, having a deep team where we can go to a bunch of different guys to give us different looks, and I think those are important things.”
Giddey was one of the Bulls’ most productive players in 2025-26, averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 54 games. He shot 44.8% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range while starting 51 games.
Matas Buzelis also emerged as a significant part of Chicago’s young core, averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 77 games while shooting 46.3% from the field. Patrick Williams averaged 7.0 points in 72 games, while Isaac Okoro contributed 9.3 points and shot 46.0% from the field.
The Bulls made major changes during the offseason after installing Bryson Graham as executive vice president of basketball operations and Tiago Splitter as head coach. Chicago also added veteran scoring with Norman Powell, who signed a two-year, $45 million deal, and strengthened its frontcourt by acquiring Nic Claxton.
The organization also selected Caleb Wilson fourth overall and Dailyn Swain 15th in the 2026 NBA Draft. The new-look roster is expected to blend Giddey and Buzelis with the two rookies, while Powell and Claxton provide veteran experience.
Giddey believes that depth could help Chicago navigate the long regular season, particularly during difficult stretches.
“I think it’s a matter of doing it every night,” Giddey said. “I think middle of the season, when it gets to those grind kind of days, and when you don’t feel like playing one night, I think those are the games where you can steal a bunch.”
Health will also be important, according to Giddey, although he acknowledged that injuries are not always controllable.
“Obviously, staying healthy is you know number one thing, but that’s not always in your control,” Giddey said.
Chicago has spent the offseason reshaping its roster after finishing 29 games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons last season. Giddey believes the team’s time together during the offseason has helped establish chemistry, but the real test will come once the regular season begins.
“Yeah, I guess we’ll we’ll see how it starts in a month or so,” Giddey said.
