It sure sounds like Chicago Bulls starting center Nic Claxton will finally make his team debut on Sunday, in a likely doomed rematch with the Philadelphia 76ers.
K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network reports that head coach Tiago Splitter expects Claxton to “probably” suit up, albeit on a minutes restriction.
Claxton, 27, has missed all of the Bulls’ five preseason games and their eight regular season contests while grappling with a hamstring strain for the first time ever. He and Dailyn Swain were assigned to the Windy City Bulls on Thursday — and after a healthy practice, Claxton was brought back to Chicago proper.
During a team practice, he spoke with gathered reporters about his rehab from the ailment — as captured by Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.
“We took our time with it. Checking off all the boxes the training staff wanted — sprints, playing against live bodies. Now it’s time for the lights to come on,” Claxton told reporters. “Body-wise, I’m ready. I feel great. I don’t have aches. I’m ready to run through a wall.”
Claxton on recovery process “We took our time w it. Checking off all the boxes the training staff wanted — sprints, playing against live bodies. Now it’s time for the lights to come on.“Body wise, I’m ready. I feel great. I don’t have aches. I’m ready to run thru a wall.” pic.twitter.com/RsALfdpnmP
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) November 6, 2026Per Lorenzi, Claxton suggested that he was going to give the Bulls some of the edge they have desperately been lacking in limping to a 1-7 season start.
“I’m gonna bring us some fresh energy, some swagger, some intensity. I feel like we need that right now,” Claxton said. “Understandably been in a bit of a drag. That’s how it is losing in the league. Hopefully I can bring some positive energy.”
Chicago Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter smiles.Splitter’s Plan for Claxton Remains Up in the Air
Splitter, for one, seems totally reinvigorated by the news of Claxton’s impending arrival.
The first-year Bulls head coach told reporters that he intended to experiment with double-big lineups featuring both Claxton and Smith, according to Lorenzi. Splitter suggested that Smith might still be his starter while Claxton plays on his minutes limited — and that the duo might even start together!
Splitter seems excited to explore Claxton’s ability to pass and handle, which perhaps could help Chicago unlock its offense a bit.
Were Splitter to opt for that look in his first five, who would be relegated to the bench?
Caleb Wilson, who’s been used more like a big wing than a power forward anyway, could afford to be slotted down a position in a reconfigured lineup. The No. 4 selection in the 2026 NBA Draft is not going anywhere, with a Rookie of the Year bid still in his sights.
Current starting small forward Matas Buzelis has the single-worst individual net rating of any player thus far this season, but given that he’s still just 22 years old and on a rookie-scale salary, it remains important that Chicago gives the third-year lottery pick a long developmental leash.
Point guard Josh Giddey, owner of the seventh-worst net rating in 2026-27, does seem more ripe for a demotion — although in his case, the Bulls would want to insert his backup, Tre Jones.
The aforementioned Powell, an All-Star just last year, has leaned heavily on foul-baiting to generate his offense this season. But he’s been relatively competent, and is Chicago’s best non-Caleb Wilson trade chip. He needs to be featured.
Were it up to this writer, I would swap in Jones for Giddey and see if the 24-year-old couldn’t light up opposing benches with his flashy passing. But Buzelis needs more time in a starting role — unless the Bulls want to briefly showcase Smith ahead of his likely trade this year. We know at least one surprise semi-contender is already eyeballing a Smith deal.
In this scenario, Buzelis would just return to the first five after Smith gets moved midseason.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith.Bulls Injury Updates: Jalen Smith, Zach Collins
Power forward/center Jalen Smith exited Chicago’s 135-105 Madison Square Garden shellacking against the New York Knicks on Wednesday with a finger injury.
He took a hard fall beneath the basket while defending OG Anunoby in the game’s first half, and used his arms to brace himself. The Bulls quickly ruled him out for the night.
Smith seemed optimistic he wouldn’t be out for long, if at all. Splitter revealed that Smith was available for a full team practice Friday, Johnson notes.
Although he’s not great when it comes to meeting opposing players at the rack, Smith is a decent man-to-man defender and historically a solid 3-point marksman (he’s a career 33.9 percent shooter from deep). This year, he’s struggled to connect from distance, but otherwise has been easily the Bulls’ best player not named Caleb Wilson (with apologies to Norman Powell).
In just 22.5 minutes a night (remember, he was only healthy for seven minutes against the Knicks), Smith has been averaging 11 points on a .472/.282/.750 slash line, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 blocks a night.
The Bulls’ only healthy rim protector, however, is more of a question mark for the Sixers game. Splitter indicated that $17 million signing Zach Collins missed the Friday workout with an undisclosed illness, according to Johnson.
Collins has been working his way back to health from a quadriceps injury, averaging just 8.7 minutes in six games.
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