They ended as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for a second consecutive season.
Chicago started their playoff run on April 28, taking Game 1 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center.
However, that victory was marred with the season-ending injury of point guard and reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the final minutes of the game.
[2] The Bulls won one more game at home before losing the series 2–4 in Philadelphia and became the fifth number one seed in league history to lose a playoffs series against a number eight seed, following the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, the Miami Heat in 1999, the Dallas Mavericks in 2007, the San Antonio Spurs in 2011, and followed by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023.
[16] The Chinese Basketball Association, however, only allows its clubs to sign foreign free agents who could play for at least the entire season.