The Bulls closed out the final 20 games of the 2024/25 regular season by going 15-5, in no small part due to the play of Coby White and Josh Giddey. But the backcourt tandem hasn’t had much time on the court together this season, largely because of White’s calf issues.
White expressed confidence about the duo rediscovering their prior form together ahead of Tuesday’s game in Atlanta, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Head coach Billy Donovan says that would only be beneficial.
“I think it would definitely help us,” Donovan said. “I think the hard part has been Coby just trying to get back and find a rhythm with him being out. So with him being out, he and Josh also finding a rhythm. But I think last year, they coexisted very well.
“They have a very good relationship, they talk and they communicate. Certainly for us, those two guys playing at a high level is going to help, but we’re going to have to rely on the other guys, too.”
White (team-high 24 points, four assists, three steals) and Giddey (19 points, 15 assists, 11 rebounds) both played key roles in Tuesday’s comeback victory, notes Bill Trocchi of The Associated Press.
Here’s more on the Bulls, who have won four straight:
- Giddey says he’s more focused on winning than individual accolades, but he admits he’s hoping to make his first All-Star appearance in 2025/26, Cowley writes in another story. “Every player wants to be an All-Star — all those things when they first get drafted, get into the league — and I’m no different,” Giddey said. “Everyone has individual aspirations. They’re lying if they say they don’t, but it’s about not letting it get in the way of the team. I want to be an All-Star; everybody inside [the locker room] wants to be an All-Star. But you’ve got to be able to do that inside the team and win games while trying to do individual things, as well. Winning solves everything, and all the individual stuff comes after that.” Giddey, who is averaging career highs of 20.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists while shooting a career-best 40.2% from long distance through 27 games, has seven triple-doubles this season, trailing only Nikola Jokic, who has 14.
- Aside from rookie Noa Essengue, who is out for the season following shoulder surgery, the Bulls are healthy for the first time this season and Ayo Dosunmu said they have a “resilient” group after Tuesday’s win. “This has been about continuing to stay together, continuing to get better,” Dosunmu said, per Cowley. “We understood that (the losing streak) was not the best basketball that we were playing, but we all knew what we were capable of. We put it together and have been playing a great stretch of basketball. Now we’ve got to just keep doing it.” Chicago lost seven straight before its four-game winning streak.
- In case you missed it, the Bulls have reportedly been involved in multiple trade conversations recently.
ICYMI: The Bulls have reportedly been involved in multiple trade conversations recently.
It’s about time. Bulls lead the league in one thing. Procrastination. They celebrate Christmas in February.
But Mike, did you hear the proposal? We should be trading Essengue and Collins and Okoro plus picks for a broken down 33 year old PF who has the most mysterious injuries in the entire league.
Most of the rumors I’ve heard are so remotely stupid that they are not even worth a look. Anthony Davis is toast. Burnt toast. If you threw that toast outside the birds would attack you.
AD has a groin strain. Most players could play thru that. AD most serious injury was his eye. Reason he wears goggles. Imo better condition and strength would help him. At some point you have to question his condition and commitment. And by the way he is 32 born 3/11 1993. If I could get him cheap. I would consider it. Why not. Can it be worse than this …..
👇👇👇👇👇👇 👇👇
Bulls are a lost franchise. Their fans don’t have a clue about them. Their owner doesn’t have a clue about them. And clearly Donovan still hasn’t figured it out. MThey weren’t sure about Giddey which is nuts. Now it’s Coby They aren’t sure about.
What are we sure about .500 ball now.
This is Donovans 6 th yr as Bulls coach. He has had ONE winning season (46). Only Vuc remains from that teams top players. Since then 40, 39, 39 wins. And this years 14-15 team. Billy is doing exactly what you pay him for. Play .500 ball.
AD IS a groin strain. On everyone.
We got any real Bulls fans on here ????
Explain to us why you don’t like Williams. Please
Then tell us what you should do with him.
OK. He sucks. He’s untradeable because he’s getting paid like a # 4 draft pick when he should have been picked maybe at the end of the 2nd round. He showed up for a few games at the start of the season and then went into his normal cocoon. He’s inconsistent, Doesn’t work hard, Doesn’t play defense and shoots like a drunken 5th grader. Did I miss anything?
His jumper might be that of a drunken 5th grader , but a drunken 5th grader still has triple the energy level that he plays with.
It’s a tough combo when you’re not very good at basketball And don’t know how to play. This is what you get from that combo.
First thing you missed is his draft status. He was considered a lottery a pick. Do you read scouting reports for Bulls picks. Do you scout them. Or you just wait till it goes wrong. Then Beach about it.
He was considered one of best defenders in the draft. And if the Bulls would have developed him right. By playing the three. You could have a starting 3. With 2way potential.
You do understand Billys offense. And why it failed Williams. You should. Why did you extend him. Seems you beaching about the wrong person. Of he was as bad as you talk. Why is ge still here. 15 mill a yr is not untradeable. You can offer him in AD trade.
Imo Williams had high potential as a 2Way talent when drafted. Since then Bulls have done more harm than good. Why does it take 4 yrs for your team to realize a player is not a good fit. Why is it you don’t understand Billy is issue here. Nothing gets done until you commit to a core. He hasn’t done that since he came to Chicago. Yet all haters do is blame players.
Do you like Giddey ?????
Do you like Coby ?????
Do you like Buzelis?????
2020
+5
Chicago Bulls Pick Patrick Williams With 4th Overall Selection in …
Before the 2020 NBA Draft, Patrick Williams was seen as a high-upside, physically gifted “prototype” forward with elite defensive versatility, athleticism, and potential to develop into a two-way star, despite limited college production at Florida State where he was ACC Sixth Man of the Year. Scouts praised his NBA-ready frame (6’8″, 225 lbs, 7-foot wingspan), powerful transition game, and defensive instincts, but noted concerns about his offensive consistency, playmaking, and need to develop his jumper and assertive scoring, projecting him as a lottery pick with Kawhi Leonard-like potential if developed well.
I think you had better stick to NY AL. Because wherever you read that Patrick Williams was one of the best defenders in that draft that publication is an epic failure. Patrick Williams is an even worse draft pick than Marcus Fizer who was until then the worst draft pick in Bulls history. As to what we’re going to do with him we’re doing it. Letting him rot on the bench unless everybody else on the bench is injured. That’s about all you can do now. Throw that money in Lake Michigan. Unless you know some bigger idiot than AK who will take him. As far as Coby goes he can go too. He’s not really Championship timber to us. The difference is he’s getting paid a lot less to do a lot more so somebody will want him I think. He doesn’t play defense either. In fact I’ll go a step further and say the only guy with an expiring deal I want back is Collins.
All the reports have that. Don’t you read scouting reports before the draft. You just accept whoever they draft. I agree with those reports. I watched enough video. And watched enough games his first two yrs. To see his physical tools. Its why I have said he can be an OG type player. You should know your team or coach better. Cause they are the worse defensive minds.
Donovan doesn’t care about D. Bulls team doesn’t play enough good team D. Yet you only blame Williams. This is a team game. Williams is a three. Has no business playing any othet position. Thats how you treat high lottery picks. Otherwise why did you draft him so high. Imo Bulls fans don’t get the effect of Donovan. Your anger is misdirected. It’s easy to say Williams can put up 14 pts and 5 reb plus shoot 40% from three. He’s almost done that now. And hasn’t played consistently well. You do understand coaches also mess up players. Its not about what Bulls or Donovan wants. Its about what can a player give you. You wouldn’t change a stars game. Yet you think you can to Williams. Imo he is capable of solid D one on one. He has all the tools. Playing team should be easier. Except on a team who doesn’t play team D…..
If Bulls don’t like Williams. Why extend him. If you can’t teach him or he can’t learn. Why is he still on team. Okoro is basically same thing but for Cavs. Yet now Bulls will develop him. Imo he can be a solid rotation guy. I can nake him a starter with offensive Center and PF next to him. Thats called chemistry team fit.
Donovan is your problem.
I follow the draft strong most yrs. Its one of my favorite hobbies. I follow guys I like. Or players that are suppose to be stars or good. So I can watch their development. I’m not always right. I believe I have a good eye.
I’ll never understand why most posters on here. Want to see players fail. Instead of rooting for them to become players. A rotation player is very important for a team. Not all players become stars cause they are drafted high. Especially today when most picks are 18-19 yr olds. Do you understand development. Cause MLB does it for yrs at different levels. And most don’t make it.
Number one) The Bulls have their 3. It’s Buzelis. At the 3 he dominates. As a 4 he gets dominated. Bulking him up to play the 4 would be just another epic mistake of trying to make somebody something he’s not. Williams has no heart. He, Like Robert Wuhl said in Bull Durham is a Lollygagger. He lollygags here, He Lollygags there, He lollygags everywhere. He brings absolutely no visible skill to a basketball game. He can’t shoot, He can’t defend, He can’t rebound. Now I really don’t know what you’ve been watching but we know what we’re watching and it’s a 19 million a year nothing. If you see anything else you live in a dream world. They’ve tried him at 4. They tried him at 3. They even had him play some 2 I think. He can’t play period. Coby can score but that’s it. He can’t play PG, He doesn’t play defense. With the money they’ll have after all these contracts are gone we can do much better. That’s just a fact. The best asset an NBA Franchise can have is Cap Space which they’ll have for next year. Whether we have the right people to make those decisions is a whole other matter. I hope this explains it to you so you’ll finally understand . If not I’m done. It’s like talking to a tree.
No offense lol. But if we are going to talk ball. You respect what i say. Don’t think you can school me on anything including other players. You made a point about Williams. Why are you bringing Buzelis into conversation. I can tell you all about him. And he is 3 yrs away minimum. Hasn’t done shhh yet. Like I said before and for last two yrs. Bulls don’t know what to do with Williams.
Therefore Bulls fans only see failure.
Williams should be balling by now instead he is blamed for bad coaching. If Williams didn’t fit my style or I lost faith in him. I would have played him and made him look good. Then traded him yrs ago. Why resign him. What don’t you get about that.
The whole Free World is trying to figure out why they gave him that contract.
There’s nothing more boring than somebody who thinks he’s never wrong. Used to respect you until you said that. And if you see anything remotely useful in Williams your player evaluations suck.
2020
+5
Chicago Bulls Pick Patrick Williams With 4th Overall Selection in …
Before the 2020 NBA Draft, Patrick Williams was seen as a high-upside, physically gifted “prototype” forward with elite defensive versatility, athleticism, and potential to develop into a two-way star, despite limited college production at Florida State where he was ACC Sixth Man of the Year. Scouts praised his NBA-ready frame (6’8″, 225 lbs, 7-foot wingspan), powerful transition game, and defensive instincts, but noted concerns about his offensive consistency, playmaking, and need to develop his jumper and assertive scoring, projecting him as a lottery pick with Kawhi Leonard-like potential if developed well.
link to nbadraftroom.com
link to bleacherreport.com
link to nba.com
Even when you fail at drafting. You can always coach the player to be better. So you can trade him for value. Whats the point of crying here. Or blaming players. Billy Donovan shouldn’t be coaching in NBA. He is a college coach imo. I have said that since Thunder hired him. I understand it sucks to have a bad team. But if your GM and coaches can’t handle it. Then why are they still there. Why do you resign them. Thibs is a guy who knows about building teams and talent. Yet you ran him out of town first chance you got. And have sucked since. You want to hear what I do. Just ask ..