CHICAGO — JALEN SMITH EMERGES AS GAME-CHANGER FOR BULLS — JANUARY 2026

Following their 124–102 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the Chicago Bulls improved to 20–22 on the season, a mark that reflects a team finding rhythm while integrating unexpected contributors like Jalen Smith into the rotation.

Coby White led the way with 24 points, including seven three-pointers, while Ayo Dosunmu provided 19 points off the bench, and veterans Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis each added 17, supporting a balanced scoring attack that carried the Bulls to a decisive victory.

Still, the performance that arguably stood out most was that of Jalen Smith, who recorded his third consecutive double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, proving that the sixth-year big man has become an essential component for Chicago’s success.

Chicago is now 20–15 when Smith is in the lineup this season, remaining winless in games he has missed, a statistical indicator of his growing influence and the team’s reliance on his presence on both ends of the floor.

After a largely forgettable first season in Chicago following his 2024 offseason signing, Smith has turned a middling tenure into a resurgent campaign, demonstrating that his value extends far beyond counting stats alone.

Last season, Smith’s three-point shooting dipped to 32.4 percent, a notable decline from his 2023–24 campaign with the Indiana Pacers, and the Bulls were slightly less efficient with him on the floor, highlighting why expectations were initially cautious.

Entering the 2025–26 season, Smith began as a third-string option behind Vucevic and Zach Collins, but injuries and early-season rotations pushed him into a larger role that would ultimately allow him to showcase his versatility and impact.

After a strong start in limited minutes, head coach Billy Donovan gradually entrusted Smith with more responsibility, discovering that the 6-foot-9 big man could improve the Bulls on offense and defense while providing spacing, rebounding, and rim protection.

On the season, Smith is averaging 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 blocks, and 1.4 three-pointers in just 18.7 minutes per game, efficiency numbers that underscore his value relative to his playing time and role in the rotation.

In January alone, Smith has elevated his production to 11.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 triples per game, recording double-doubles in four of seven contests, further cementing his place as a reliable two-way contributor.

Perhaps most importantly, the Bulls are now 11.9 points per 100 possessions better with Smith on the floor this season, a metric that illustrates his tangible impact on team efficiency and overall performance.

Smith’s emergence has created a welcome problem for Donovan, as the coach must now balance a roster flush with starting-caliber talent while integrating a player who clearly merits significant minutes in the opening lineup.

Smith complements Vucevic by providing floor spacing and defensive toughness, while also allowing Buzelis to slide to his more natural position at small forward, enhancing both offensive versatility and defensive rotations for Chicago.

Even so, Smith’s current run as a starter may be temporary, as Josh Giddey is expected to return from a late-December hamstring strain, creating another depth chart dilemma that could shuffle rotations and impact minutes distribution.

While arguments exist for keeping Smith in the starting five, Donovan must weigh options like sliding Isaac Okoro to the bench, a decision complicated by the forward’s value as a point-of-attack defender and his own unique skill set.

Regardless of rotation shifts, Smith’s impact is undeniable, and even if he slides back into a reserve role, the Bulls will benefit from his presence, as his efficiency, versatility, and high-level production strengthen the team in multiple lineups.

Moreover, Smith’s rise has strategic implications beyond the court, making Vucevic more expendable in trade scenarios and providing Chicago with newfound roster flexibility to address long-term planning and potential midseason adjustments.

While Vucevic remains productive at 17 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in his age-35 season, Smith’s seamless integration into the frontcourt allows the Bulls to consider transactions without sacrificing on-court performance or continuity.

Smith’s quiet emergence has been transformative for Chicago, shifting him from a middling free-agent acquisition into a cornerstone capable of anchoring the frontcourt and reshaping Donovan’s approach to rotations and strategy.

His development strengthens the starting lineup, deepens the bench, and allows the Bulls to leverage veteran assets more strategically, giving the franchise both short-term efficiency and long-term flexibility in roster construction.

Simply put, Smith hasn’t just improved the Bulls on the floor; he has altered the trajectory of the roster, giving Chicago a strategic advantage as they enter the second half of the 2025–26 season.

For a team searching for consistency and efficiency, Smith’s play represents both a stabilizing force and a catalyst for upward mobility, offering hope that Chicago can contend while maintaining depth, versatility, and future flexibility.

The rise of Jalen Smith is a story of adaptation, resilience, and seizing opportunity, proving that even under pressure, a young big man can redefine his role, impact games, and shift the strategic landscape for one of the NBA’s storied franchises.