Watching the Chicago Bulls will look a lot different this season.
With the organization joining both the White Sox and Blackhawks on the new Chicago Sports Network (the official name has yet to be announced), NBC Sports Chicago has been left in the dust. The station that celebrated 20 years of local sports coverage on Tuesday night is expected to close its doors at the end of the month.
As a lifelong Chicago sports obsessor in his late 20s, it’s hard not to feel emotional. Many of my favorite and most formative sports memories were made with the rainbow-colored peacock sitting in the corner. Whether it be watching Derrick Rose embarrass opposing backcourts or letting Beer Money rock me to sleep, NBC Sports Chicago has been a constant in my life.
Factor in my own role in this wild west of an industry, and it’s even harder not to feel emotional. I know firsthand how tough it is to stay afloat in the sports media world, and this network has provided a lot of good jobs to a lot of great people. I’ve also gotten to know a handful of those people ever since accepting my role with Bleacher Nation in 2019.
I wish everyone who has called NBC Sports Chicago home the best of luck in the coming weeks and months. I also thank all of you for putting out a product that you should be proud of.
In case you missed it, NBC Sports Chicago celebrated their 20 years on the air with a special last night. I’ll drop the full thing below, which you can also find on their YouTube page here.
- So what does this mean for Chicago Bulls coverage? Well, Stacey King and Adam Amin aren’t going anywhere. Those two are hired by the organization and will make the move over to the new network. As for the other typical cast of characters, their role in 2024-25 coverage remains unclear. We have yet to hear really anything about which talent at NBC Sports Chicago will transition to the new pre-game and post-game shows. To be sure, I hope a lot of familiar faces get the phone call, but I also understand the need for new blood and new opportunities in this industry. I’m eager to see where the dust settles in a few short weeks.
- If one thing is for sure, this Chicago Bulls team will not greet the new network with a warm welcome. The first year on [insert, hopefully clever, station name here] is bound to be a rough one on the court. With the Bulls at risk of losing their 2025 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs, stacking up losses must be near the top of their mind. We talked more about their role in the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes and the competition that stands in their way on Tuesday.
- For what it’s worth, I feel pretty good about the Bulls being pretty bad this season. As long as the Charlotte Hornets or Detroit Pistons take a step in the right direction this year, the Bulls could find themselves close to the NBA’s bottom five. To be sure, I know counting on the Hornets or Pistons not to suck is a scary thought, but both rosters feel capable of showing improvement. I feel the same way about the Toronto Raptors. This front office purposely tanked hard in a failed attempt to keep their pick last year. With Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickely, I feel confident in saying that their roster is comfortably better than a 25-win team. The Bulls should be able to finish below them.
- K.C. Johnson spent some time thinking about the Chicago Bulls’ upcoming rotation. With DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso both playing elsewhere, plenty of minutes have opened up. But the problem is the Bulls might have one too many options. If I’m Billy Donovan, my primary focus is on getting the young guys playing times, especially my No. 11 overall pick. At the same time, the head coach still needs to build a cohesive lineup, and letting Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig warm the bench may not be the smartest idea. Those are two of the better 3-point threats on the roster. Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt to have some veteran experience on the floor to help the young players. This season is going to be a tough one for Billy, especially with a Lonzo Ball return seemingly on the horizon.
- The Indiana Fever have clinched a playoff spot behind a strong second-half effort from Caitlin Clark. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky are at risk of stumbling out of the postseason picture after trading Marina Mabrey and losing Chennedy Carter for a handful of games. They are tied with the Atlanta Dream at 11-22 with seven games to go.
- Make that two!
- What would you rate this season of Hard Knocks?