New Milestone Exposes The Bulls Franchise
The last three months have been the most exciting and gut-wrenching months of the previous five years for Chicago Bulls fans. The franchise’s face, Zach LaVine, was traded away, the most exciting rookie in recent memory was drafted, and the organization seemingly chased the Cooper Flagg dream at one point. All the chaos led to a third consecutive Play-In Tournament loss to the Miami Heat, and Chicago fans felt a new level of agony and frustration, if possible. The latest reality check is making the rounds, exposing the Bulls’ incompetence to the entire sports world.
Longest Franchise Playoff Series Win Drought Since 1987
The last time the Chicago Bulls won a home playoff game was in 2015. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s been a decade since the franchise won a home playoff game or a playoff series. The ten-year absence from the second round or further in the playoffs represents the second-longest in their illustrious history, two years behind the 1976-1988 drought. What is the difference between that period and the current situation? Chicago drafted Michael Jordan in 1984 and made the playoffs each of the last three seasons of the 12-year dry spell, whereas right now, they’ve finished below .500 in back-to-back-to-back campaigns and have no All-Star level talent on the roster and zero playoff appearances.
The Bulls haven’t won a home playoff game since Derrick Rose’s iconic game-winner vs. the Cavs in 2015.
That was a DECADE ago ???? pic.twitter.com/ZLQm8G3Fz4
— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) April 18, 2025
Bears last playoff win: 2011
Blackhawks last playoff series win: 2015
Bulls last playoff series win: 2015
Cubs last playoff series win: 2017
Sox last playoff series win: 2005This city absolutely sucks at sports
— Chief (@BarstoolChief) January 16, 2025
A Decade Of Woes With Minimal Change
Chicago’s ten-year playoff series victory drought represents the fourth-longest in the NBA, and they’ve done very little to change that. Not only have they continually whiffed on draft choices and not drafted an All-Star since Jimmy Butler (drafted in 2011), but they’ve also made weak attempts at bringing All-NBA caliber players to the franchise. The biggest name they’ve acquired during that span was Nikola Vucevic, fresh off of back-to-back All-Star nods. With the constant change and movement of players leaguewide, Chicago is a uniquely undesired destination despite being one of the largest markets in American sports. Zach LaVine was given the largest contract in franchise history. Meanwhile, names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Anthony Davis, and Damian Lillard are among the dozens of elite talents who have gone to new organizations. The lack of homegrown talent via draft picks, or outside finds via trades or free agency, has doomed the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls last won a playoff series in 2015.
They’ve made the playoffs one time since 2017 and yet have had a Top-5 pick only once, with which they drafted a complete bust.
They haven’t had a franchise player since trading Jimmy Butler and have no path to get one.
Shut. Up. https://t.co/p8k5mQ5OJo
— Kyle Tausk (@ktausk13) April 17, 2025
Aside from having to watch a similar product across all Chicago sports, the most insulting and infuriating part is Arturas Karnisovas’s and, ultimately, Jerry Reinsdorf’s continued negligence.
What needs to happen for the Bulls to return to their former glory in the NBA, besides selling the team?