Chicago Bulls 2024-25 NBA Championship Betting
For the first time since 2022 and just the second time since 2017, the Chicago Bulls made the postseason via the play-in round. Billy Donovan completed his fifth season as head coach of the Bulls, where he has not matched the success that he previously had as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Of course, the big difference is talent, where the Thunder were loaded while the Bulls have next to nothing of it. Still, a coach has only so much shelf life, and Donovan is not moving the needle. Chicago was eliminated in the play-in round, 109-90 by the Miami Heat.
2024-25 NBA Championship Betting Odds
Chicago Bulls NBA Betting Lines
The Chicago Bulls' final regular season record was 39-43 straight up, 44-37-1 against the spread, and 42-39-1 over/under the total. Chicago was 9th in the Eastern Conference playoff standings, 25 games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Chicago's NBA metrics were 6th for scoring offense, 15th for field goal percentage, 13th for 3-point field goal percentage, 3rd for free throw percentage, and 3rd for offensive rebounding. On defense, the Bulls' metrics were 28th for scoring defense, 16th for field goal percentage permitted, 2nd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 29th for defensive rebounding.
Key Players
Colby White led the Bulls in scoring with 24.0 points per game. White was the 7th overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft out of North Carolina by the Bulls. This was the first season he eclipsed over 20.0 points per game for his career.
Nikola Vucevic was the 16th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft out of USC by the Philadelphia 76ers. This year, he averaged 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Vucevic was the 16th overall pick of the 2-11 NBA Draft out of USC by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Initially, Zach LaVine took over as the marquee man on the Bulls. Last year, he averaged 19.5 points and 5.2 assists per game. However, LaVaine was recently traded in-season to the Sacramento Kings.
With the trade of Zach LaVine, the Bulls are seen as a team that has raised the white flag of surrender. Gamblers want nothing to do with them. However, Wise Guys will shop Chicago as a team that is getting enhanced prices from oddsmakers who are trying to even out the betting action.
Head Coach
Head coach Billy Donovan is best known for winning national championships in 2006 and 2007 with the Florida Gators. Also, he produced strong seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he led them to the Western Conference Finals in 2016. Donovan has been with the Bulls since 2020-21.
Season-by-Season Record (Last 7)
| SEASON |
GAMES |
WINS |
LOSSES |
FINISH |
PLAYOFFS |
| 2024–25 |
82 |
39 |
43 |
5th, Central |
Lost Play-in (Heat) |
| 2023–24 |
82 |
39 |
43 |
4th, Central |
Lost Play-in (Heat) |
| 2022–23 |
82 |
40 |
42 |
3rd, Central |
Did Not Qualify |
| 2021–22 |
82 |
46 |
36 |
2nd, Central |
Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Bucks) |
| 2020–21 |
72 |
31 |
41 |
3rd, Central |
Did Not Qualify |
| 2019–20 |
65 |
22 |
43 |
3rd, Central |
Did Not Qualify |
| 2018–19 |
82 |
22 |
60 |
4th, Central |
Did Not Qualify |
Chicago Bulls History
Founded as an NBA expansion team in 1966-67, the Chicago Bulls played second fiddle to the other teams in the Second City until the early 1970s, when they became a regular winner under head coach Dick Motta. Stars such as Bob Love, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, Norm Van Lier, Bob Weiss, and Tom Boerwinkle won over Windy City fans with grit and skill.
Following the Motta era, the franchise experienced a decline until the greatest player in the league's history arrived in 1984. Michael Jordan quickly made the Bulls relevant once again. The Bulls proceeded to make the playoffs for 14 straight seasons, and they became one of the greatest teams of the modern era shortly after Phil Jackson brought his innovative Triangle offense to the team. Scottie Pippen flanked Jordan for the entire run and a rotating cast of role players for the first three titles and then the second three titles.
After the sixth NBA title in eight years, Jerry Krause blew up the roster. Phil Jackson was pushed out, and Michael Jordan retired, leading to the worst period in franchise history. Chicago hired Tim Floyd to replace Jackson, and Floyd became one of the worst coaches in the history of the NBA. In over three years, the Bulls went 49-190 under Floyd, and Chicago turned things around under Scott Skiles shortly after Floyd was fired. Skiles led the Bulls to three straight playoff appearances and helped set the table for Tom Thibodeau. We saw Thibs take the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first season, and the Bulls made the playoffs for five straight seasons before his defense-first style burned out the team.
NBA Teams
Eastern Conference - Atlantic
Eastern Conference - Central
Eastern Conference - Southeast
Western Conference - Northwest
Western Conference - Pacific
Western Conference - Southwest
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