2021–22 Chicago Bulls season

The 2021–22 Chicago Bulls season was the 56th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After 5 straight non-winning record seasons, the Bulls looked to their off-season major acquisitions. They signed Lonzo Ball and traded for DeMar DeRozan. Highlights included DeRozan's back-to-back buzzer-beater game-winners, the first ever in NBA history, despite them happening on separate calendar years (The New Year's Eve Heave at Indianapolis and New Year's Day at DC). The Bulls had not made the playoffs since the 2016–17 season,[1] but on April 5, 2022, following the loss of the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Orlando Magic, the Bulls clinched a playoff berth, ending their five-year playoff drought. The sixth-seeded Bulls fell to the third-seeded (and defending NBA champion) Milwaukee Bucks in the first round in five games.[2]

2021–22 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachBilly Donovan
General managerMarc Eversley
PresidentArtūras Karnišovas (vice)
Owner(s)Jerry Reinsdorf
ArenaUnited Center
Results
Record46–36 (.561)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Central)
Conference: 6th (Eastern)
Playoff finishFirst Round
(lost to Bucks 1–4)

Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionNBC Sports Chicago
RadioWLS
WSCR
< 2020–21 2022–23 >

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
238Ayo DosunmuPG United StatesIllinois

The Bulls had a single pick in the draft.[3]

Standings

Division

Central DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
yMilwaukee Bucks5131.62227‍–‍1424‍–‍1712–482
xChicago Bulls4636.5615.027‍–‍1419‍–‍2210–682
piCleveland Cavaliers4438.5377.025‍–‍1619‍–‍2210–682
Indiana Pacers2557.30526.016‍–‍259‍–‍322–1482
Detroit Pistons2359.28028.013‍–‍2810‍–‍316–1082

Conference

Eastern Conference
#TeamWLPCTGBGP
1cMiami Heat *5329.64682
2yBoston Celtics *5131.6222.082
3yMilwaukee Bucks *5131.6222.082
4xPhiladelphia 76ers5131.6222.082
5xToronto Raptors4834.5855.082
6xChicago Bulls4636.5617.082
7xBrooklyn Nets4438.5379.082
8piCleveland Cavaliers4438.5379.082
9xAtlanta Hawks4339.52410.082
10piCharlotte Hornets4339.52410.082
11New York Knicks3745.45116.082
12Washington Wizards3547.42718.082
13Indiana Pacers2557.30528.082
14Detroit Pistons2359.28030.082
15Orlando Magic2260.26831.082

Notes

c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference; y – Clinched division title; x – Clinched playoff spot; pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot; * – Division leader

Roster

2021–22 Chicago Bulls roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G2Ball, Lonzo6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)190 lb (86 kg)1997-10-27UCLA
C13Bradley, Tony6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)248 lb (112 kg)1998-08-01North Carolina
G/F7Brown, Troy6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg)1999-07-28Oregon
G6Caruso, Alex6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)186 lb (84 kg)1994-02-28Texas A&M
F25Cook, Tyler (TW)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)255 lb (116 kg)1997-09-23Iowa
G/F11DeRozan, DeMar6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)1989-08-07USC
G12Dosunmu, Ayo6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)200 lb (91 kg)2000-01-17Illinois
G24Green, Javonte6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg)1993-07-23Radford
F14Hill, Malcolm (TW)6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)1995-10-26Illinois
F5Jones, Derrick6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)1997-02-15UNLV
G8LaVine, Zach6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg)1995-03-10UCLA
F19Simonović, Marko6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)220 lb (100 kg)1999-10-15Montenegro
G21Thomas, Matt6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1994-08-04Iowa State
F/C3Thompson, Tristan6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)254 lb (115 kg)1991-03-13Texas
C9Vučević, Nikola7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)260 lb (118 kg)1990-10-24USC
G0White, Coby6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg)2000-02-16North Carolina
F44Williams, Patrick6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg)2001-08-26Florida State
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: April 2, 2022

Game log

Preseason

2021 preseason game log
Total: 4–0 (home: 3–0; road: 1–0)
Preseason: 4–0 (home: 3–0; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 5ClevelandW 131–95 Zach LaVine (25)Alize Johnson (11)Alex Caruso (10)United Center
11,777
1–0
2October 8New OrleansW 121–85 Zach LaVine (21)Nikola Vučević (10)Caruso, Johnson (5)United Center
13,909
2–0
3October 10@ ClevelandW 102–101 DeMar DeRozan (23)Alize Johnson (11)Alex Caruso (4)Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
10,003
3–0
4October 15MemphisW 118–105 Zach LaVine (31)Nikola Vučević (8)Ball, LaVine (6)United Center
14,412
4–0
2021–22 season schedule

Regular season

2021–22 game log
Total: 46–36 (home: 27–14; road: 19–22)
October: 5–1 (home: 3–1; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1October 20@ DetroitW 94–88 Zach LaVine (34)Nikola Vučević (15)Ball, LaVine, Vučević (4)Little Caesars Arena
20,088
1–0
2October 22New OrleansW 128–112 Zach LaVine (32)Lonzo Ball (10)Lonzo Ball (10)United Center
20,995
2–0
3October 23DetroitW 97–82 DeMar DeRozan (21)Nikola Vučević (19)DeMar DeRozan (6)United Center
18,888
3–0
4October 25@ TorontoW 111–108 DeMar DeRozan (26)Nikola Vučević (8)DeMar DeRozan (6)Scotiabank Arena
19,800
4–0
5October 28New YorkL 103–104 Zach LaVine (25)Nikola Vučević (8)Caruso, Vučević (6)United Center
20,972
4–1
6October 30UtahW 107–99 DeMar DeRozan (32)Nikola Vučević (12)Zach LaVine (5)United Center
20,668
5–1
November: 9–7 (home: 4–3; road: 5–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
7November 1@ BostonW 128–114 DeMar DeRozan (37)Nikola Vučević (10)Nikola Vučević (9)TD Garden
19,156
6–1
8November 3@ PhiladelphiaL 98–103 DeMar DeRozan (37)DeRozan, Vučević (10)Caruso, Vučević (6)Wells Fargo Center
20,438
6–2
9November 6PhiladelphiaL 105–114 Zach LaVine (32)Nikola Vučević (11)Lonzo Ball (5)United Center
20,936
6–3
10November 8BrooklynW 118–95 DeMar DeRozan (28)Nikola Vučević (13)LaVine, Vučević (5)United Center
19,459
7–3
11November 10DallasW 117–107 Zach LaVine (23)Nikola Vučević (10)Ball, DeRozan (6)United Center
20,910
8–3
12November 12@ Golden StateL 93–119 Zach LaVine (23)Alize Johnson (7)Caruso, DeRozan (5)Chase Center
18,064
8–4
13November 14@ LA ClippersW 100–90 DeMar DeRozan (35)Alex Caruso (9)Caruso, DeRozan (5)Staples Center
17,899
9–4
14November 15@ LA LakersW 121–103 DeMar DeRozan (38)Tony Bradley (9)Lonzo Ball (8)Staples Center
18,997
10–4
15November 17@ PortlandL 107–112 Zach LaVine (30)Alex Caruso (10)Alex Caruso (9)Moda Center
17,492
10–5
16November 19@ DenverW 114–108 Zach LaVine (36)Javonte Green (9)Lonzo Ball (6)Ball Arena
19,520
11–5
17November 21New YorkW 109–103 DeMar DeRozan (31)Javonte Green (9)Ball, DeRozan (5)United Center
21,813
12–5
18November 22IndianaL 77–109 DeMar DeRozan (18)Ball, Bradley, Brown Jr., Jones Jr., White (5)LaVine, White (3)United Center
21,586
12–6
19November 24@ HoustonL 113–118 Zach LaVine (28)Nikola Vučević (13)DeMar DeRozan (7)Toyota Center
16,074
12–7
20November 26@ OrlandoW 123–88 DeMar DeRozan (23)Green, Vučević (8)Lonzo Ball (6)Amway Center
18,236
13–7
21November 27MiamiL 104–107 DeMar DeRozan (28)Nikola Vučević (13)Ball, Caruso (6)United Center
21,110
13–8
22November 29CharlotteW 133–119 Nikola Vučević (30)Nikola Vučević (14)Lonzo Ball (8)United Center
21,366
14–8
December: 9–2 (home: 5–0; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
23December 2@ New YorkW 119–115 DeMar DeRozan (34)LaVine, Vučević (7)Ball, Caruso (6)Madison Square Garden
19,812
15–8
24December 4@ BrooklynW 111–107 Zach LaVine (31)Lonzo Ball (9)Lonzo Ball (7)Barclays Center
18,116
16–8
25December 6DenverW 109–97 Zach LaVine (32)Ball, Vučević (10)Dosunmu, LaVine (8)United Center
21,236
17–8
26December 8@ ClevelandL 92–115 Zach LaVine (23)Nikola Vučević (12)Zach LaVine (9)Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
17,707
17–9
27December 11@ MiamiL 92–118 Zach LaVine (33)Nikola Vučević (8)Alex Caruso (5)FTX Arena
19,731
17–10
PPDDecember 14DetroitPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: January 11)[4][5]
PPDDecember 16@ TorontoPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: February 3)[4][5]
28December 19LA LakersW 115–110 DeMar DeRozan (38)Nikola Vučević (13)DeMar DeRozan (6)United Center
21,560
18–10
29December 20HoustonW 133–118 DeMar DeRozan (26)Nikola Vučević (6)Lonzo Ball (8)United Center
21,150
19–10
PPDDecember 22TorontoPostponed (COVID-19) (Makeup date: January 26)[4][6]
30December 26IndianaW 113–105 Zach LaVine (32)Nikola Vučević (15)Zach LaVine (5)United Center
20,475
20–10
31December 27@ AtlantaW 130–118 DeMar DeRozan (35)Nikola Vučević (17)DeMar DeRozan (10)State Farm Arena
17,049
21–10
32December 29AtlantaW 131–117 Zach LaVine (25)Nikola Vučević (20)Coby White (12)United Center
21,372
22–10
33December 31@ IndianaW 108–106 DeMar DeRozan (28)Nikola Vučević (16)DeMar DeRozan (6)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
17,515
23–10
January: 8–8 (home: 6–2; road: 2–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
34January 1@ WashingtonW 120–119 Zach LaVine (35)Nikola Vučević (12)DeRozan, White (5)Capital One Arena
19,043
24–10
35January 3OrlandoW 102–98 DeMar DeRozan (29)Nikola Vučević (17)Lonzo Ball (7)United Center
20,502
25–10
36January 7WashingtonW 130–122 Zach LaVine (27)Nikola Vučević (14)DeMar DeRozan (8)United Center
21,700
26–10
37January 9@ DallasL 99–113 DeRozan, LaVine (20)Derrick Jones Jr. (8)DeMar DeRozan (8)American Airlines Center
20,041
26–11
38January 11DetroitW 133–87 Nikola Vučević (22)DeMar DeRozan (12)DeRozan, LaVine (7)United Center
19,886
27–11
39January 12BrooklynL 112–138 Zach LaVine (22)Lonzo Ball (7)Lonzo Ball (7)United Center
21,698
27–12
40January 14Golden StateL 96–138 Coby White (20)Nikola Vučević (14)DeMar DeRozan (7)United Center
21,174
27–13
41January 15@ BostonL 112–114 Nikola Vučević (27)DeMar DeRozan (8)Ayo Dosunmu (10)TD Garden
19,156
27–14
42January 17@ MemphisL 106–119 DeMar DeRozan (24)Dosunmu, Vučević (10)Ayo Dosunmu (6)FedExForum
17,794
27–15
43January 19ClevelandW 117–104 DeMar DeRozan (30)Nikola Vučević (12)Ayo Dosunmu (8)United Center
20,824
28–15
44January 21@ MilwaukeeL 90–94 DeMar DeRozan (35)Nikola Vučević (11)Ayo Dosunmu (6)Fiserv Forum
18,013
28–16
45January 23@ OrlandoL 95–114 DeMar DeRozan (41)Nikola Vučević (13)DeRozan, Vučević (3)Amway Center
18,846
28–17
46January 24@ Oklahoma CityW 111–110 Nikola Vučević (26)Nikola Vučević (15)Ayo Dosunmu (8)Paycom Center
14,378
29–17
47January 26TorontoW 111–105 DeMar DeRozan (29)Nikola Vučević (15)LaVine, Vučević (8)United Center
20,269
30–17
48January 28@ San AntonioL 122–131 DeMar DeRozan (32)Nikola Vučević (8)DeMar DeRozan (8)AT&T Center
18,354
30–18
49January 30PortlandW 130–116 Nikola Vučević (24)Nikola Vučević (14)Ayo Dosunmu (11)United Center
19,521
31–18
February: 8–5 (home: 6–3; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
50February 1OrlandoW 126–115 DeMar DeRozan (29)Nikola Vučević (13)Ayo Dosunmu (9)United Center
20,217
32–18
51February 3@ TorontoL 120–127 (OT)Nikola Vučević (30)Nikola Vučević (18)Ayo Dosunmu (8)Scotiabank Arena
0
32–19
52February 4@ IndianaW 122–115 Nikola Vučević (36)Nikola Vučević (17)Ayo Dosunmu (14)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
16,355
33–19
53February 6PhiladelphiaL 108–119 DeMar DeRozan (45)DeMar DeRozan (9)DeRozan, Dosunmu (7)United Center
20,233
33–20
54February 7PhoenixL 124–127 DeMar DeRozan (38)Nikola Vučević (12)Zach LaVine (8)United Center
20,615
33–21
55February 9@ CharlotteW 121–109 DeMar DeRozan (36)Nikola Vučević (15)Nikola Vučević (8)Spectrum Center
19,099
34–21
56February 11MinnesotaW 134–122 DeMar DeRozan (35)Nikola Vučević (8)Ayo Dosunmu (10)United Center
20,092
35–21
57February 12Oklahoma CityW 106–101 DeMar DeRozan (38)Nikola Vučević (15)Ayo Dosunmu (9)United Center
20,072
36–21
58February 14San AntonioW 120–109 DeMar DeRozan (40)Nikola Vučević (16)DeMar DeRozan (7)United Center
21,153
37–21
59February 16SacramentoW 125–118 DeMar DeRozan (38)Nikola Vučević (10)DeRozan, Dosunmu, White (6)United Center
19,166
38–21
60February 24AtlantaW 112–108 DeMar DeRozan (37)Nikola Vučević (10)DeRozan, Dosunmu, LaVine, Vučević (3)United Center
21,236
39–21
61February 26MemphisL 110–116 DeMar DeRozan (31)Nikola Vučević (12)Zach Lavine (6)United Center
21,959
39-22
62February 28@ MiamiL 99–112 Zach LaVine (22)DeRozan, Vučević (7)Dosunmu, White (6)FTX Arena
19,683
39–23
March: 6–9 (home: 3–1; road: 3–8)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
63March 3@ AtlantaL 124–130 DeRozan, LaVine (22)Nikola Vučević (11)DeMar DeRozan (8)State Farm Arena
17,522
39–24
64March 4MilwaukeeL 112–118 Zach LaVine (30)Nikola Vučević (9)Ayo Dosunmu (7)United Center
21,259
39–25
65March 7@ PhiladelphiaL 106–121 Zach LaVine (24)DeMar DeRozan (11)DeMar DeRozan (8)Wells Fargo Center
20,381
39–26
66March 9@ DetroitW 114–108 DeMar DeRozan (36)DeMar DeRozan (8)Ayo Dosunmu (7)Little Caesars Arena
18,022
40–26
67March 12ClevelandW 101–91 DeMar DeRozan (25)Nikola Vučević (14)Coby White (7)United Center
21,727
41–26
68March 14@ SacramentoL 103–112 Zach LaVine (27)Nikola Vučević (10)DeRozan, LaVine (6)Golden 1 Center
15,943
41–27
69March 16@ UtahL 110–125 Zach LaVine (33)Nikola Vučević (11)DeMar DeRozan (7)Vivint Arena
18,306
41–28
70March 18@ PhoenixL 102–129 DeMar DeRozan (19)Green, Vučević (7)Zach LaVine (9)Footprint Center
17,071
41–29
71March 21TorontoW 113–99 DeRozan, LaVine (26)Nikola Vučević (13)Caruso, Dosunmu, LaVine (6)United Center
21,778
42–29
72March 22@ MilwaukeeL 98–126 Nikola Vučević (22)Nikola Vučević (7)Zach LaVine (7)Fiserv Forum
17,983
42–30
73March 24@ New OrleansL 109–126 Zach LaVine (39)Nikola Vučević (9)Coby White (6)Smoothie King Center
13,973
42–31
74March 26@ ClevelandW 98–94 Zach LaVine (25)Nikola Vučević (9)Alex Caruso (7)Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
19,432
43–31
75March 28@ New YorkL 104–109 DeMar DeRozan (37)Nikola Vučević (13)DeMar DeRozan (7)Madison Square Garden
19,812
43–32
76March 29@ WashingtonW 107–94 DeMar DeRozan (32)DeRozan, Williams (7)Ayo Dosunmu (6)Capital One Arena
15,922
44–32
77March 31LA ClippersW 135–130 (OT)DeMar DeRozan (50)Nikola Vučević (14)Alex Caruso (7)United Center
21,519
45–32
April: 1–4 (home: 0–4; road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
78April 2MiamiL 109–127 Zach LaVine (33)Nikola Vučević (10)Nikola Vučević (5)United Center
21,697
45–33
79April 5MilwaukeeL 106–127 DeMar DeRozan (40)Tristan Thompson (7)Alex Caruso (8)United Center
20,799
45–34
80April 6BostonL 94–117 DeMar DeRozan (16)Nikola Vučević (7)DeMar DeRozan (5)United Center
21,095
45–35
81April 8CharlotteL 117–133 Zach LaVine (23)Brown Jr., Vučević (5)Zach LaVine (7)United Center
21,461
45–36
82April 10@ MinnesotaW 124–120 Patrick Williams (35)Troy Brown Jr. (11)Ayo Dosunmu (6)Target Center
17,136
46–36
2021–22 season schedule

Playoffs

2022 playoff game log
Total: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
First Round: 1–4 (home: 0–2; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1April 17@ MilwaukeeL 86–93 Nikola Vučević (24)Nikola Vučević (17)DeMar DeRozan (6)Fiserv Forum
17,717
0–1
2April 20@ MilwaukeeW 114–110 DeMar DeRozan (41)Nikola Vučević (13)Alex Caruso (10)Fiserv Forum
17,688
1–1
3April 22MilwaukeeL 81–111 Nikola Vučević (19)Coby White (8)Dosunmu, LaVine (5)United Center
22,667
1–2
4April 24MilwaukeeL 95–119 Zach LaVine (24)Vučević, Williams (10)Zach LaVine (13)United Center
22,020
1–3
5April 27@ MilwaukeeL 100–116 Patrick Williams (23)Nikola Vučević (16)DeMar DeRozan (7)Fiserv Forum
17,506
1–4
2022 playoff schedule

Player statistics

PlayerPos.GPGSMPReb.Ast.Stl.Blk.Pts.
Lonzo BallPG35351,2121901786431455
Jordan BellC10210100
Tony BradleyC557549186271033163
Troy Brown Jr.SF6671,05520366365283
Alex CarusoPG41181,1471481657115304
Tyler CookPF2022005334467
DeMar DeRozanSF76762,74339237468242,118
Ayo DosunmuG77402,1102142566029679
Devon DotsonPG110859151029
Javonte GreenSG/PG65451,519276606732468
Malcolm HillSG/SF1601662973255
Alize JohnsonPF1601213683028
Derrick Jones Jr.SF518899169302533286
Zach LaVineSG67672,32830830341231,635
Mac McClungSG10300002
Alfonzo McKinnieSF1732063352359
Marko SimonovićC90351001117
Matt ThomasSG400459502083161
Tristan ThompsonC23337610914127130
Nikola VučevićC73732,41880423670711,288
Coby WhitePG61171,6751821762911772
Patrick WilliamsPF179422691599153

After all games.[7]
Waived during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

References