The Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the play-in tournament for the third year in a row. They last appeared in the postseason back in 2022 when they were knocked out in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks.
At least, that’s one version of events. Across consoles all over the world, a different version of the Chicago Bulls might be faring a little better. For Illinois basketball fans who took advantage of Illinois sportsbook promos during the season, NBA 2K25 offers another fun way to stay connected and keep competing with the Bulls on the virtual court. You can still find joy in watching a pixelated band of Bulls ballers make it all the way to the championship.
At least, that’s one version of events. Across consoles all over the world, a different version of the Chicago Bulls might be faring a little better. NBA 2K25 provides a virtual reprieve to fans of Illinois basketball.
If your wager on Chicago hoops didn’t pan out this year, you can still find joy in watching a pixelated band of Bulls ballers make it all the way to the championship.
Who are the best Bulls players in NBA 2K25? Let’s get into it.
NBA 2K25 Bulls Roster Overview
The base game begins with the Bulls’ current roster. Because video games are now connected to Wi-Fi, that roster can even change to reflect a mid-season trade.
For example, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan began their seasons with the Bulls, only to be traded away.
So, if you bought the game back in the fall of last year, your team would have started with them as playable Bulls characters, only to have them replaced by a slew of others to reflect the rather complicated trade deal that’s not worth expanding upon here.
So, who does that leave us with? Well, there are the typical Bulls starters. These include Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic.
You can also play with any of the Bulls’ bench players, including Illinois’ own E.J. Liddell, who signed a two-year deal last season.
Most players going through story mode in NBA 2K25 will stick primarily with the core starting lineup, integrating their own designed character into the roster wherever it fits.
This is because the players have base stats, which means that a high-performing player in real life will have literal statistical advantages over the benchwarmers in the game.
You might want to sub in your favorite try-hard, give them a little more playtime than they get in real life, but because of the way the game’s algorithm works, you’re rewarded for keeping the best players in the game as much as possible.
Kobe White is the best current Bulls player with an overall rating of 85. He’s tied with Josh Giddey, while Nikola Vučević trails them by just one point.
The lowest overall rating on the current roster is Shemar Young with a 67.
However, people don’t only buy the NBA 2K games because they want to experiment with the current roster. In fact, one of the best features is that you can tap into dream scenarios from the Bulls’ past.
Yeah, you know what that means.
The Dream Team Scenario
The game also gives you the option to play as the all-time Bulls team, which basically means you can string together a roster of the highest-ranked players to ever wear a Bulls uniform.
This includes Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Jimmy Butler. Jordan is the highest-rated Bulls player in the game, with an overall score of 99, followed by Pippen at 97.
The all-star lineup is great for people who just want to go gangbusters and never, even for a moment, have to sub in a mediocre player.
However, you can also choose from classic lineups. For example, if you were a huge fan of the ’90s Bulls—and obviously you were—you can play as any one of the multiple different configurations from that decade.
These features are a great option for people who have been following the team for many years and aren’t particularly enchanted by the current lineup.
Can you trade players to the Bulls?
All of this is great, but what if your favorite player has never actually worn a Bulls uniform before? Is there a video game solution to your fantasy lineup scenario? There is.
Through the MyCAREER option, you can trade players and shape the roster to your preference. This means that, technically, if your dream is to see LeBron James as a Bulls player, you can make it happen.
The game does make it a little more complicated than just cherry-picking your favorite or highest-rated players, but there are endless online tips for how to execute your dream scenarios.
This aspect of customization adds an extra level of excitement and fulfillment to a game that is, at its core, designed to give everyday people a taste of NBA life.
