The NBA thought it best to schedule this epic clash of play-in tournament titans as soon as possible: DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are returning to Chicago when the Bulls host the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 29.
You can view the Bulls' entire 2025-26 schedulehere.
Chicago's schedule includes some funky opportunities, like back-to-back road games against the Miami Heat at the end of January. Winning twice in South Beach could be a little retribution for the last three years of season-ending play-in defeats.
Lonzo Ball will return to the United Center on Dec. 17. The long-time Chicago favorite is now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the Bulls swapped him for Isaac Okoro this offseason.
Another reunion with a few more familiar names will come much sooner.
Bulls to host former franchise stars Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings
DeRozan was at the center of everything Chicago accomplished during its last "peak," if you could call it that. The last time the franchise made the playoffs in 2021-22, he led the team in scoring with 27.9 points per game on typically efficient shooting numbers. DeRozan started 76 games, made the Eastern Conference All-Star team, was named Second-Team All-NBA and received MVP votes.
Despite the Bulls falling off the playoff map with injuries to Ball and LaVine over the next two seasons, the Southern California native started 153 of a possible 164 games and averaged 37.1 minutes per contest. He made the all-star team again in 2022-23 and was the runner-up for Clutch Player of the Year his final season in Chicago before the Bulls sent him to Sacramento as part of a sign-and-trade deal.
LaVine wasn't the model of consistency that DeRozan was, but when he was healthy, there's no denying the offensive boost he gave. Both of the 30-year-old's all-star berths came in Chicago. In his seven full seasons with the Bulls, LaVine averaged 24.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists with shooting splits of 47/38/84.
Vice president of basketball operations Arturas KarniĊĦovas finally pulled the trigger and moved LaVine, ironically to the Kings, just before the trade deadline last year in exchange for Zach Collins, Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter, who are all still in Chicago. Huerter and Jones will likely play significant roles for head coach Billy Donovan this season.
It won't be the same emotional reunion Ball will likely get, but DeRozan will surely receive a warm welcome. LaVine should, too, even if to a lesser extent. It should be a meaningful night in Chicago on Oct. 29.