The Chicago Bulls navigate early injury setbacks with center Nic Claxton and Zach Collins, while new coaching staff emphasize defensive habits ahead of the regular season.
The season-opening trip to Toronto is just two weeks away. but for the Chicago Bulls. the immediate focus is not on the opponent—it is on the silence of an empty training camp floor. A hamstring tweak has sidelined center Nic Claxton, leaving his availability for the October opener in doubt. Alongside him. Zach Collins remains out with a quad injury. further thinning the frontcourt rotation as the team prepares for their preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns.
Head coach Tiago Splitter remains measured, viewing the setbacks as a test of patience rather than a systemic failure. While Collins’ return could come in the very near future, the team is forced to wait on Claxton. Splitter holds a clear vision for the 27-year-old, noting, “I think he’s a great fit. I think he can run the court, I think he can protect the rim. His production wasn’t as good as maybe two, three years ago last year. We believe there is a reason behind it, and we just want to have the best Nic we can have.”.
Claxton’s own account of that “reason” points to a turbulent 2024-25 campaign. He confirmed during camp that lingering back issues stifled his performance. compounded by a team-wide commitment to a tanking strategy that resulted in reduced minutes. For Splitter. the priority is restoring the player who could once “leap over the rim. ” even if the current injury requires an immediate pause in progress.
Beyond the health reports, a culture shift is underway. Veteran guard Norman Powell is tasked with curbing the communication lapses that have plagued the franchise for half a decade. During live-play simulations. he has been a vocal presence. pushing teammates to abandon the urge to guess and instead focus on organized rotations. “Drills are great but as soon as that live play happens you kind of lose that sense and you start to try and anticipate. ” Powell said. “Just being on them each and every day that we have to talk. we have to communicate where building winning habits happen.”.
Patrick Williams remains a lingering variable in this reconstruction. Despite internal attempts to move on from the forward. he remains under contract for $18 million this season. with identical salary figures for the following year and a player option for the third. Splitter is withholding judgment until the team moves from controlled practice environments to the pressure of live games. “I think it’s hard to evaluate guys from practice,” the coach noted. “We want to see what it looks like when the lights are on and go from there. He’s doing the right things, doing the things I’ve asked him to do.”.
Before tip-off against the Suns on Wednesday, the organization took a moment to look back. The arena fell into a moment of silence to honor the memory of former broadcaster and three-time NBA champion Stacey King. who died on June 7 at age 59. The tribute will be repeated during the team’s regular-season home opener. where players will debut a commemorative patch they will wear throughout the season.
Chicago Bulls Nic Claxton Tiago Splitter NBA preseason Zach Collins Patrick Williams Norman Powell