Our Chicago Bulls received some happy and sad news on a pair of 40-something frontcourt alums from yesteryear earlier this week.
As the Bulls look forward to what should be an intriguing training camp that tips off on Sept. 29, we’re also looking back on some big Chicago moments from the past.
Bulls Bullets — September 18, 2026
Bulls legend Taj Gibson may have been a very well-compensated, unofficial player-coach for the final four seasons of his 17-year NBA career, but the Chicago alum is beginning life as an official assistant coach back where it all started. He hopped on CHSN’s “By The Horns” podcast with hosts K.C. Johnson and Cam Smith to discuss his new role with the Bulls and his relationships with Chicago stars past and present. Gibson did indicate that he is angling to become a head coach one day. Could that day come while he’s still with the Bulls?“It’s like deja vu, when you’re that rookie and you come in,” Gibson said. “The first thing you expect when you see rookies and young players, is just go out there and play hard. When I see our young guys, they play extremely hard. It’s like, man, once we just weak it a little bit and have them really buy in, it’s something special to see. Every day I’m in practice I’m just smiling. I’m talking a lot of crap and I’m smiling.”
Chicago’s official, team-sanctioned training camp tips off on Tuesday, Sept. 29 (media day ensues on Monday, Sept. 28). But the fact that Gibson spoke about watching Wilson and Buzelis “in practice” suggests that he’s already hanging out with at least that dynamic duo during unofficial off-season shootarounds and workouts. Former backup Bulls big man Michael Sweetney has tragically passed away at just 43 years young. Sweetney had been an assistant coach under Ellion Steinmetz at Yeshiva University, who announced the news of his passing on X.Our Bulls family extends our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former Bull Michael Sweetney, who has passed away at 43. pic.twitter.com/UwXMTQ6cEt
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 17, 2026 An All-American power forward at Georgetown from 2000-03, Sweetney was selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. Sure, New York never had a shot at LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, or Chris Bosh (or even Kirk Hinrich), but eventual All-Stars David West, Kyle Korver, Josh Howard, and Mo Williams were still on the board. Sweetney was part of the return package the Scott Skiles-coached Bulls received after offloading Eddy Curry and an aging Antonio Davis to New York. In addition to Sweetney, Chicago also brought back big man Tim Thomas (and guard Jermaine Jackson, although he was cut before playing a game). The biggest piece of that deal, though, was the Knicks’ eventual ninth selection in the 2007 NBA Draft… which Chicago used on future Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah. Sweetney struggled with his fitness, but managed to be a useful bench piece for the 2005-06 Bulls. In 66 games (44 starts) for the 41-41 Bulls, Sweetney averaged 8.1 points on 45 percent shooting from the floor and 65.2 percent free throw shooting, 5.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 0.8 rejections per. He fell out of the rotation during his second and final season with the Bulls. After that, he hopped around international gigs before finding his true calling as a coach. After the fact, Sweetney was candid about struggling with his mental health throughout his playing career. During a conversation with Stefan Bondy of the New York Post over the summer, he acknowledged that there was more of a stigma surrounding the issue during his era than there is now.“Looking back at it, obviously with my mental health issues, with me struggling with depression and anxiety, what I should have done was get some help, find somebody to talk to. I thought I was a man who could fight it on his own and obviously it burned me,” Sweetney told Bondy. “I went from a top-10 pick to being out of the league in four years. So it was one of those things where it sucked but it was one of those things where I wish I talked to somebody and let them know, ‘Look, I need help. I’m not okay.’”
The Bulls’ PR team has announced Chicago’s full training camp schedule for the 2026-27 season, per Drew Stevens of The Bigs. Media Day will tip off on Monday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. Training camp will start the next day. The Bulls will hold an open practice (!) at Horner Park on Friday, Oct. 2 so… be sure to take the day off work if you’re able!One thing that jumped out from the Bulls’ training camp schedule; they’re holding an open practice at Horner Park on Oct. 2. pic.twitter.com/HxF585RCvL
— Drew Stevens (@ByDrewStevens) September 18, 2026 Likely All-Rookie Team Chicago Sky wing Sydney Taylor, who joined the squad in free agency after going undrafted way back in 2024 (she had been playing abroad from ’24-’25), tells Alissa Hirsh of the Chicago Sun-Times that she’s eyeing a long-term future with the franchise. Overall, Taylor has been averaging 13.8 points a night — third among all rookies in a talented class that also includes Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd and All-Star point guard Olivia Miles.“A long-term contract would be really nice,” Taylor reflected. “A couple years. I would love to stay in Chicago and play for a while, as long as I can. I love the city, I love the fans. That’d be a great opportunity for me.”
Taylor agreed to a one-year, $270K deal with the Sky for 2026. The 25-year-old will be hitting free agency again this offseason as one of the more exciting young players on the market.BULLS ON BLEACHER NATION: Go Ad-Free | Subscribe to the BN Newsletter
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