Chicago Bulls Announce Five-Game Preseason Schedule

The NBA season is just around the corner, and we finally know when we'll next see the Chicago Bulls take the court.

On Tuesday morning, the Bulls released their five-game slate of preseason contests, beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Chicago opens its schedule with a home game against the Phoenix Suns, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. CT.

Phoenix is coming off a 45-37 season in which it reached the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. However, the Suns were swept in the opening round by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Devin Booker returns for his 12th season in Central Arizona, where he'll be joined by Dillon Brooks and recent trade acquisition Miles Bridges.

The Bulls then host the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. CT. No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson will face off against No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, continuing a rivalry that existed when the pair was at North Carolina and Duke, respectively. The Grizzlies and the Bulls similarly entered a rebuild over the last year, in which Memphis traded away longtime cornerstones Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant and Desmond Bane.

Chicago's first road preseason game comes against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. CT. Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic still leads the charge for Denver, with Jamal Murray serving as his co-star. The Nuggets are currently in a salary cap crunch with restricted free agent Peyton Watson as they approach the second apron.

The Bulls' short road trip continues with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. CT. Milwaukee fully entered a rebuild this offseason with a blockbuster trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who now plays for the Miami Heat.

Chicago's preseason ends at home, when the Bulls host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. CT. Minnesota signed former Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu to a five-year, $112 million contract this offseason, then traded Julius Randle to Brooklyn to make the necessary salary room. The Wolves capped off the summer with a trade for Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball as Minnesota continues its title pursuit.

Preseason games don't count in the record books, but they are helpful in giving fans a preview of the team they'll see on the court. This fall's five exhibition contests will mark the first time that rookies like Wilson and Dailyn Swain will play alongside Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey in live game action, ushering in a new era of Chicago Bulls basketball.