The Chicago Bulls may not be leading the Eastern Conference standings, but they can claim one unexpected distinction as the regular season winds toward its final stretch.
Chicago currently leads the entire NBA in total players used this season, a statistic that captures both relentless roster movement and the instability that has defined the franchise’s campaign.
A staggering 27 different players have logged minutes in a Bulls uniform, placing the organization comfortably atop the league leaderboard in that unusual category.
Only the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies come close, each deploying 25 players as the season enters its final month and a half.
The primary catalyst for this revolving door reality was Chicago’s aggressive approach at the trade deadline, where seven players were shipped out in a dramatic midseason overhaul.
In return, the Bulls infused the roster with a wave of fresh faces, signaling both urgency and a willingness to reset portions of the core.
Among the new arrivals were Jaden Ivey, Rob Dillingham, Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Guerschon Yabusele, Nick Richards, and Leonard Miller, each representing a different gamble on upside or fit.
With injuries already ravaging the depth chart upon their arrival, Chicago wasted little time integrating these additions directly into meaningful minutes.
Ivey, Dillingham, Simons, Sexton, Yabusele, and Richards have each seen immediate rotation action, absorbing significant roles over recent games.
Leonard Miller stands as the lone newcomer still fighting for consistent rotation footing, positioned on the fringe as coaching staff experiments with lineups.
Beyond the headline trades, Chicago’s reliance on two way contracts has further inflated the total number of contributors.
The organization began the season with Emanuel Miller, Lachlan Olbrich, and Trentyn Flowers occupying its three two way slots.
Flowers was eventually released, while Miller departed as part of a deadline transaction, opening the door for new opportunities.
Fan favorite Yuki Kawamura capitalized on that opening, earning extended time with the club and injecting energy into a season otherwise marked by turbulence.
The Bulls also signed Mac McClung on deadline day, further adding to the expanding list of contributors.
Of the two way group, Olbrich has logged the most playing time, benefiting from Chicago’s injury depleted frontcourt.
The former second round selection in the 2025 NBA Draft has been pressed into duty at center, a position that has lacked continuity for much of the year.
Even so, every two way player on Chicago’s books this season has appeared in at least one game, incrementally pushing the franchise toward its league leading total.
Nothing encapsulates the current state of the Bulls more clearly than the sheer volume of names attached to one season.
This level of turnover reflects not only necessary adjustments but also lingering structural questions within the roster building process.
The front office, led by executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, now faces increasing scrutiny as the churn continues.
While deadline activity can signal decisiveness, it can also expose a reactive pattern rather than a cohesive long term blueprint.
Looking ahead, the instability may not subside anytime soon, as several expiring contracts remain on Chicago’s cap sheet.
When next season tips off, it would not be surprising if more than 30 different players have worn a Bulls jersey across a single year span.
Such volatility rarely aligns with sustained competitiveness, especially in a conference defined by continuity among its top contenders.
Below is a breakdown of every player who has appeared for Chicago this season, divided between the current active roster and those who have since moved on.
Active Roster
Matas Buzelis
Josh Giddey
Tre Jones
Patrick Williams
Isaac Okoro
Jalen Smith
Zach Collins
Noa Essengue
Anfernee Simons
Collin Sexton
Rob Dillingham
Jaden Ivey
Leonard Miller
Guerschon Yabusele
Nick Richards
Mac McClung*
Lachlan Olbrich*
Yuki Kawamura*
* Two way contracts
Previous Roster
Coby White now with the Charlotte Hornets
Ayo Dosunmu now with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Nikola Vucevic now with the Boston Celtics
Kevin Huerter now with the Detroit Pistons
Dalen Terry now with the Philadelphia 76ers
Julian Phillips now with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Jevon Carter now with the Orlando Magic
Trentyn Flowers*
Emanuel Miller* now with the Cleveland Cavaliers
* Two way contracts
At its core, this roster carousel underscores the precarious position Chicago occupies within the league hierarchy.
Frequent turnover can occasionally precede reinvention, but more often it signals uncertainty in evaluation and direction.
If stability does not emerge soon, the expanding list of contributors may ultimately serve as the clearest indictment of this era in Bulls basketball.
