Since joining the Chicago Bulls in February as part of a three-team deal that also brought Zach Collins and Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter quietly found his rhythm in Windy City after a rocky stretch in Sacramento. Ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 season, the 27-year-old guard is likely to build on his temporary success with the franchise, and he could be exactly what the Bulls need to jumpstart their attack and change the narrative.
Just two years ago, Huerter was coming off a career-best season with the Sacramento Kings. He averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 2022-23, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and a scorching 40.2 percent from beyond the arc. His movement shooting, floor spacing and off-ball chemistry made him an ideal fit alongside De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, helping the Kings break their long playoff drought.
But the following year told a different story. In 2023-24, Huerter’s numbers dipped across the board. His minutes shrank, his three-point shooting fell to 36.1 percent, and his overall impact waned. By the start of the 2024-25 season, his role had eroded further. He started just 15 of 43 games for the Kings, averaged barely 20 minutes a night, and hit only 30.2 percent from three. Once a key starter, he had slid toward the fringe of the rotation at the time.
The midseason trade to Chicago offered a reset, and Huerter seized it. Over 26 games in a Bulls uniform, he started 16 and averaged 13.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.0 minutes per game. His shooting rebounded to 43.9 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three, and he delivered several big outings, including a 25-point performance against his former Kings teammates. More importantly, he looked like himself again — flying around screens, knocking down shots in rhythm, and making quick reads off the dribble.
For the Bulls, Huerter’s skill set is a perfect complement to their young core. His perimeter shooting and off-ball movement can stretch defenses, creating space for Josh Giddey’s drives and Coby White’s pull-ups. His ability to serve as a secondary ball-handler adds another wrinkle to their offense, and his playoff experience gives the roster a steadying veteran presence.
If he can stay consistent and hold his own defensively, Huerter could become a crucial piece of the Bulls’ rotation this season. After riding out the highs and lows of the past few years, he seems ready to settle in, and Chicago might be the place where his career finds its second wind.