In the heart of Orlando on October 25, 2025, the Chicago Bulls continued their early NBA campaign with a clear mission in mind: embrace the "95% rule." Head coach Billy Donovan hammered home the message—most of the game, his players won’t have the ball in their hands, but that’s exactly where they can make the biggest difference. “The reality of it is that most of these guys, 95% of the game, they’re playing without the ball in their hands,” Donovan stated before tip-off. “They don’t need to be waiting to get the ball back in their hands. There are other things they can be doing to impact the game. [Former Bulls guard Alex] Caruso did it for us at a really high level, and I think Isaac [Okoro] will do it for us.”
That philosophy is more than just coach-speak—it’s the new identity for a Bulls team in transition. After shifting from a plodding, midrange-heavy offense to a modern pace-and-space attack last season, Chicago is now doubling down on off-ball movement and relentless cutting. Center Nikola Vucevic, a vocal leader in the locker room, believes this is the next evolution for the Bulls. “The league in general is doing a lot of off-ball movements, especially with bigs being able to pass and stretch the floor, and it opens up so many more opportunities,” Vucevic explained. “It’s something we talk a lot about. The additions of Tre [Jones] and Kevin [Huerter] last year and Okoro this year, they’re really good cutters, so it adds to our offense.”
The numbers support Vucevic’s optimism. In their season-opening win against the Detroit Pistons, Chicago racked up 29 assists—including a whopping 10 in the first quarter alone. That ball movement and energy off the ball set the tone for a 115–111 victory, even as the Pistons mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally. The Bulls once led by as many as 23 points and still held a 15-point lead in the final period before Detroit closed the gap. Isaac Okoro, making his Bulls debut, played a pivotal role on the defensive end, stymying Cade Cunningham’s attempt at a game-tying three-pointer late in the contest. Okoro’s stat line—five rebounds, four assists, zero points on 0-for-2 shooting—didn’t leap off the page, but his plus-17 plus/minus told the real story. His defensive impact outweighed his offensive shortcomings, especially with Jaden Ivey sidelined for Detroit.
“When we’re all moving and we stick to the offense, it’s going to make us really hard to guard,” Vucevic said. “So we have to stick to that.” The Bulls’ commitment to movement was evident again in Orlando, even if the early returns weren’t always pretty. They struggled to finish at the rim in the first half, but the constant cutting and off-ball hustle kept them in the game, helping to build a first-half lead. It’s a style that demands buy-in from everyone, especially a young roster still learning the ropes of NBA life.
Billy Donovan knows that his team isn’t stacked with elite, ball-dominant scorers. That’s why he’s focused on carving out roles for his players—roles that maximize their strengths and help them find longevity in the league. “So for them to carve out a niche in the NBA and have a long career, they’ve really got to understand that they have to embrace that 95% that they don’t have the ball in their hands in some way,” Donovan emphasized. It’s a message that’s resonated with his players, but nowhere is it more evident than in his approach to coaching second-year forward Matas Buzelis.
Donovan’s style with Buzelis has been a topic of conversation since the rookie’s arrival. The coach is upfront about his methods: “Players can tell when you’re not being authentic or being yourself,” Donovan said. “I think when you talk to any player when they come in, especially when they’re new, whether it’s a draft pick or [acquired] like [Okoro], it’s, ‘Hey, what’s the best way to communicate with you?’ For Matas, it was, ‘Listen, just stay on me, stay on me and help me in the areas I need to get better at.’ There’s a fine line. I think coaching is constant confrontation, but it’s not necessarily yelling and screaming. It’s confronting the things that you need to do.”
That honest, direct approach is mirrored in Donovan’s rotation decisions. The Bulls are still a work in progress, and the coach isn’t afraid to experiment. He played 10 players in the season-opening win over Detroit and expanded to an 11-man rotation against Orlando. That flexibility is a luxury, but it comes at a cost—rookie Noa Essengue and veteran guard Jevon Carter have found themselves on the outside looking in as Donovan searches for the right mix.
One of the biggest storylines through two games has been the "fluid" nature of the Bulls’ starting five. Donovan has made it clear that nothing is set in stone. “The lineup will be fluid, meaning Huerter, Okoro, or even Tre Jones could start depending on the matchup,” Donovan has said repeatedly. That flexibility paid off in the opener. Kevin Huerter, who started some games in the preseason, came off the bench against Detroit and delivered a sparkling 15-point performance in 27 minutes. He added five rebounds, a steal, and two blocks, leading all reserves in plus/minus. Huerter’s offensive punch is a stark contrast to Okoro’s defensive prowess, giving Donovan options depending on the night’s opponent.
Looking ahead, the Bulls face a pair of tough tests: the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks. Both teams are loaded with offensive firepower—Orlando with Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Franz Wagner; Atlanta with Trae Young, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jalen Johnson. Okoro’s defense will be critical against perimeter scorers like Bane and Young, but if the Bulls need more offense, Huerter is ready to step up. Last season, Chicago was 6.8 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Huerter on the floor, proving he’s no slouch on defense either.
Donovan’s approach is all about options. “Just because Okoro didn’t score, going 0-for-2 from the field, doesn’t mean the Bulls are in trouble with their fifth starter,” a team source noted. Huerter is more than a capable replacement for Okoro—or, as Donovan puts it, a “fluid” one. Even after just one game, it’s clear that depth, especially in today’s NBA, is a critical ingredient for success. Having Huerter as an alternative to Okoro might be Chicago’s most reassuring safeguard as the season gets underway.
With two games in the books, the Bulls are still a team under construction. Donovan’s willingness to experiment with rotations, his commitment to player development, and his emphasis on off-ball contributions all point to a season of growth and adaptation. The early returns? Promising, but the real tests are just beginning. As Chicago prepares for matchups against Orlando and Atlanta, the focus remains on movement, defense, and seizing every opportunity—whether the ball is in their hands or not. The journey is just getting started, and Bulls fans have plenty to watch for as the season unfolds.
