NEW YORK — As training camp opened, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan knew he faced a challenge far bigger than X’s and O’s. Up to $84 million in expiring contracts loom over six key players in 2026, a scenario ripe for distractions, ego clashes, and players prioritizing their next payday.
Donovan, a veteran of navigating tricky locker rooms, didn’t shy away from confronting the issue head-on. “Right when training camp started, I addressed all of this,” Donovan told reporters. “We have seven or eight guys in the same situation, and it’s easy if you’re not in the rotation or playing well to start thinking about yourself. There’s a level of unselfishness we needed, where you think about others, not just yourself.”
The message appears to be sinking in. Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jevon Carter—each facing potential free agency—have bought in. Even Coby White, sidelined by a calf injury, and Zach Collins, returning from wrist surgery, are prioritizing the team over personal stats. Rookie-forwards Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips, finishing their guaranteed contracts, have quietly embraced their roles without fuss.
It may seem small, but veteran observers know how critical it is. Point guard Josh Giddey, who endured last season under contract uncertainty, sees the difference a unified locker room can make. After a slow start last year and LaVine’s February trade, he learned to play freely and earned a four-year, $100 million extension this past September.
“If someone could point out which guys are free agents by how they’re playing, that would be a problem,” Giddey said. “The fact we don’t have that? Huge. Unselfish guys, everyone focused on winning, and everything else comes as a byproduct. Winners get paid.”
But the tension is palpable. November sees the Bulls thriving at 5-1, yet Donovan acknowledges the stakes will rise as the season progresses. February’s trade deadline and fluctuating minutes could test the team-first mantra. The line between collective goals and personal ambition is razor-thin in the NBA’s business-driven reality.
“Free agency will get here in July,” Donovan said. “Why worry about it now when there are things to focus on in front of you? We don’t have a team built to isolate or chase stats individually. Success requires reliance on each other. That’s the message to everyone.”
The Bulls are off to a promising start, but with half the roster potentially walking next summer, the season could become a test not only of skill but of loyalty, trust, and the fragile chemistry Donovan is trying to protect. In a league where self-interest often trumps team cohesion, Chicago’s current approach is bold, risky, and captivating.
Whether Donovan’s unselfish vision will hold under pressure remains the question everyone will be watching as the season unfolds.
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