Reasons for the Chicago Bulls to be hopeful at the All-Star break

Hope floats for the Chicago Bulls.

© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls head to the All-Star break with a 26-29 record. While it’s not what the team obviously had aimed for heading to the season, it still puts them in a good spot to nab a ticket to the Play-in Tournament. 

While there have been plenty of mishaps—the Bulls’ 5-14 start, the absence of key players due to injuries, and inconsistent performances—there are also reasons to be hopeful for the team’s future. Here are a few reasons Bulls fans should keep their heads up during this All-Star break.

The young Bulls are stepping up

While Coby White has stepped his game up since a slow start, averaging 22.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in the last 35 games, fellow young guard Ayo Dosunmu has also been on a tear in his last 15 games. 

The former Illinois ace is averaging 15.6 points, shooting a blistering 53 percent from beyond the arc, stepping up in the absence of Patrick Williams, who remains without a timeline for a return because of a foot injury.

“Dosunmu sank 14 3-pointers over his final three games and is now shooting a team-high 41.7 percent on career-high volume of 3.3 attempts per game. He’s shooting at that level while also remaining one of the team’s best finishers and push-the-pace players and supplying physical, long-armed defense,” renowned Bulls insider K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago wrote.

Ayo tres 👌 pic.twitter.com/KCZlZHI5DG

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) February 15, 2024

The twin-tower combo is working

It took a while for Bulls coach Billy Donovan to try out, but once he did, the Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond pairing has been a success so far. Donovan’s apprehensions about playing his two centers are valid, as they both thrive in the paint and are not known for their perimeter defense. 

However, with Vucevic’s ability to stretch the floor with his outside shooting and Drummond’s athleticism and rim protection, the duo has made it work on both ends of the court.

“It’s still a relatively small sample size. But Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond are up to 11 games together and 106 shared minutes. Their net rating is plus-8.5,” Johnson added.

TWIN TOWERS 💪 https://t.co/ejabYsrTc6

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) February 15, 2024

Billy Donovan reveals Patrick Williams remains without a timeline for a return