Bulls' New Era Gets a Home Test Against Washington

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Chicago's young core and fresh offensive system should be enough to edge Washington at home.

WAS @ CHI Oct 25, 2026 at 12:00 AM UTC

Everything about the Bulls this season starts with Caleb Wilson. The No. 4 pick is the focus of the offense and the face of a new era, and Washington will see how much responsibility Chicago is putting on a rookie. Rough stretches are part of the deal for a young player, but the Bulls are prioritizing his development, so he should get plenty of room to create and learn through mistakes.

The bigger question is how well the surrounding structure supports him. The Bulls are rebuilding, and for the first time in a long time the future is the priority. That gives this game a different feel from a typical win-now matchup. New coach Tiago Splitter is installing fresh offensive actions, and the early evidence of the system is in the details: Norman Powell is a primary ball-handler in those sets, and there are baseline screens designed to free Buddy Hield. If Hield gets clean looks, the floor spacing will give Wilson and the other creators more room to work.

Powell may be the steadiest piece. At 33, he is the veteran presence in a young rotation, and he has talked about embracing the slow work of building a new culture. His composure matters most when Wilson hits a bad stretch. Matas Buzelis is rising and Josh Giddey is dependable, so Chicago has several players who can initiate offense and keep possessions organized when the rookie struggles.

Washington has to prove it can take advantage of a team still learning its own system. I expect some sloppiness from the Bulls, but their ball-handling depth, the shooting from Hield and the home floor should be enough in a close game. I'll take Chicago by a narrow margin.

All game reports