Former NBA player turned broadcaster Stephen Jackson knows a thing or two about what a team needs to look and feel like to become a champion. After all, he played with San Antonio Spurs legends Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili on the 2003 squad that won the NBA championship. And so, if Jackson says the Chicago Bulls are “not built to be a championship team,” you best believe him.
Where do they go now?
The Bulls sit at 26-29—good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference—and did not make any moves at all at the trade deadline. Jackson, in his appearance on Rachel Nichol’s show “What’s Burnin,” said that it’s just not a recipe for winning an NBA title.
“That team is just not put together to be a championship team,” said Jackson. “They got a lot of guys that we like as basketball fans and watching the game, but just the combination of Lonzo being hurt, DeRozan having his nights, LaVine being in and out, you know, Caruso is the fan favorite and he’s not even the star of the team! It’s like it’s a lot of things going on over there that don’t equal winning. And that’s why you see that the things going on the way they are.”
Disappointing season so far
The Bulls entered the season with elevated expectations following their performance from the 2021-2022 campaign, which saw them return to the NBA Playoffs after an extended absence. However, the uncertainty of Lonzo Ball’s return from knee surgery, coupled with the team’s disjointed play, has put them on the outside looking in when it comes to playoff contention.
The Bulls have had some positive moments this season, such as victories over Eastern Conference powerhouse squads Milwaukee, Boston, and Miami. However, just as baffling were their losses to floundering squads like Orlando and San Antonio. With the regular season winding down and two months remaining before the start of the playoffs, there is still time for Chicago to turn things around, but as Jackson said, it’s unlikely they will become championship contenders.
