Wow! That Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder was electric. Maybe one of the best games we’ve seen in recent memory?
Two overtimes, monster stat lines, and the undefeated reigning champions losing at home, what more could you ask for?
Still, somehow, it felt like the Chicago Bulls were the loser in all of this, even though they haven’t played a game in over a month.
Also, is Chicago’s massive salary cap attracting the wrong kind of free agents linked to them? Because the Chicago Bulls still have one of the best fanbases in the NBA.
Let’s talk Bulls basketball.
Austin Reaves @ Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Last night, in what might go down as one of the best playoff games in recent memory, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The game went into double overtime, and the road team stole one from a squad that hadn’t lost a single playoff game up to this point. Victor Wembanyama finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds, and 3 blocks. And while he will grab all the headlines, deservedly so, rookie Dylan Harper was exceptional. He put up 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals. These two are just 22 and 20 years old respectively, leading their team one step closer to the NBA Finals. In fact, they broke the NBA record for the youngest starting lineup in Conference Finals history, with an average age of 22 years and 346 days. This team is going to be a problem for the NBA for a very, very, very long time.Spurs are rolling out the youngest starting lineup in the all-time history of the NBA Conference Finals. Harper (20)Castle (21)Vassell (25)Champagnie (24)Wembanyama (22)Average age: 22 years, 346 days.
— Jordan Howenstine (@AirlessJordan) May 19, 2026 On the other side of things, the OKC Thunder will be pretty disappointed about dropping that first game at home, and not for the obvious reasons. Alex Caruso — yes, that Alex Caruso — led the Thunder in scoring with 31 points off the bench, knocking down 8 threes and shooting 57% from the field. Not being able to win that game off the back of a performance like that feels like a wasted opportunity. Seeing Caruso do what he was doing still makes that Josh Giddey-for-Caruso trade seem crazy. Yes, Giddey is a young guard who could average a triple-double and make an All-Star team, but at the time, the Bulls could’ve gotten so much more for Alex Caruso. I would argue that, as great as the Thunder are, without Alex Caruso’s defense off the bench, this team would be a lot less scary. And the Bulls handed them that All-Defensive player without getting a single pick in return, along with Josh Giddey.That Alex Caruso guy is pretty good, isn’t he? The Bulls must’ve gotten multiple first round picks for him…
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 19, 2026 The now two-time MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, had a pretty ugly 24 points on 30% shooting from the field, but he also finished with 12 assists, 5 steals, and that game-tying layup at the end of regulation. Still, he went 1-for-4 across both overtimes combined, while Wemby dropped 14 points in that same stretch. Before the game, Shai was asked whether this OKC team belongs in the same conversation as the all-time great Warriors teams or the Bulls dynasty of the 90s. To that, he said:“I don’t know,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “That’s so far from where we are today. Those teams have won multiple in a row. We’ve won one and are in the [Western Conference Finals] of this run, so it’s so far away. We still have a lot to do to get there… So, to answer your question, right now, no. We’re far from it.”
And honestly, that’s the right answer. You know what they say: it don’t mean a thing without the ring. And the Thunder will need a few more of those before they can comfortably sit in that conversation. Also in Bulls-related news, The Athletic revealed the results of their anonymous players poll, which asked NBA players questions like: “How might the superstar saga with Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo end? Which arenas have the most passionate — and most obnoxious — fans? Which team would be at the top of each player’s hypothetical ‘no-trade’ list? And how do the smartest organizations spend their money beyond player paychecks?” And I am happy to report that, according to the players, the Chicago Bulls ranked fifth in the league for the most passionate fanbase. The teams ahead of them? The Celtics, Knicks, Thunder, and Spurs. Of course, the Spurs, Thunder, and Knicks are currently in their respective Conference Finals, while the Celtics have been one of the most successful teams of this decade and one of the most successful franchises of all time. In contrast, the Bulls have made just one playoff appearance since the 2017-18 season, and that ended in a first-round exit. So honestly, fifth place feels like first place once you add a little context.NBA players voted on which arena has the most passionate fanbase ?Celtics – 20.5%Knicks – 19.3%Thunder – 18%Spurs – 5.3%Bulls – 3.1%Cavaliers- 3.1%Warriors – 3.1%Pacers- 3.1%76ers- 3.1%Kings – 3.1%Via @TheAthletic pic.twitter.com/otMhGPcR3J
— SleeperHoops (@Sleeper_Hoops) May 18, 2026 And finally, something that is really grinding my gears: the Chicago Bulls being linked to every free agent on the market, even the ones that make absolutely no sense, simply because they have the most available cap space heading into free agency. The Athletic mentioned the Bulls as a potential destination for Austin Reaves in free agency, arguably the biggest name in what looks like a pretty weak free-agent class. The suggestion goes something like this:“Rival executives predicted Reaves could command $40 million a season due to a combination of his play, his age and, perhaps most importantly, a free-agent class completely devoid of players as productive as him in their prime. At present, the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets, who both have needs at the guard position, are the only teams with the sort of salary-cap space available to meet that sort of financial mark.”
Now, I could see the Brooklyn Nets being a player in the Reaves sweepstakes, considering they don’t own their picks next year and would benefit from trying to win now. But Bryson Graham literally laid out two key pillars for his roster-building philosophy. The first is being patient in a rebuild and, because of that, avoiding major free-agent signings that don’t fit the team’s timeline. The second is building around an offensive and defensive identity with players who bring size, length, athleticism, and physicality. That’s why I would be shocked if the Bulls even offered Reaves a contract this offseason, let alone seriously considered signing him just because they have the money.BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter
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