The NBA released a full schedule for the 2025-26 season, creating excitement for marquee matchups and TV slots nationwide.
Major franchises dominated prime-time coverage with predictable distributions.
The Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks each have secured 34 national TV slots for next season.
Current Champion Oklahoma City has the same amount, with other prominent teams gaining considerable range.
Featuring the number one PickCooper Flag, the Dallas Mavericks have won 23 national championships and will land 28 slots for the Houston Rockets against Kevin Durant.
However, one historically large market has received shocking treatment from the league.
Once a marquee attraction during the Michael Jordan era and Derrick Rose era, the Chicago Bulls will appear on National TV just three times next season.
The dramatic decline underscores how far franchises have declined from national relevance. One fan described the schedule as one of the saddest.
Considering that none of these three games happen at home, the situation becomes even more disappointing.
The Bulls’ national television appearances will be held in Orlando on December 1st, Brooklyn on January 16th, and in Toronto on February 5th.
A road-only schedule means that key moments like Derrick Rose’s Jersey Retirement Ceremony will not receive national television coverage.
Surveillance seems particularly cruel given the importance of Rose to the Bulls’ history and its relationship to their last period of association.
Chicago’s three slots actually represent a decline from last season’s five games, and alongside Toronto, Utah, Washington, Brooklyn, New Orleans and Charlotte, they became the league’s least TV team.
Given the Bulls’ current situation and lack of a compelling storyline, minimal coverage makes sense.
The franchise remains at Limbo in regards to Josh Giddy, who can serve as the centerpiece for the franchise next season.
Former All-Star Nikola Vsevic will likely go ahead of the team and use up even more of his limited star power.
A potential departure means Chicago is even more mediocre roster lacks the national drawing power.
Unlike teams with established superstars and promising young cores, the Bulls do not go far beyond historical significance to attract casual viewers.
The modern NBA television landscape prioritizes present talent over past glory when deciding on coverage.
Teams with compelling stories, championship aspirations, or breakout stars will naturally receive their prime time slot preferences. Currently, Chicago does not have these factors that promote television evaluation.
The contrast between their Jordanian domination and current irrelevance perfectly illustrates how bad the Bulls are in recent years and in managing assets.
Without a significant roster improvement or unexpected breakout performance, the Bulls continued to be in television asylum nationwide.