Chicago Bulls Make the Call: Zach Collins Shut Down, Jaden Ivey Sidelined
The Bulls didn’t wait for the season to sort itself out. They made their intentions clear this week, shutting down big man Zach Collins for the remainder of the year and announcing that newly acquired Guard Jaden Ivey will miss at least two weeks with left knee soreness. It’s the kind of double hit that forces a franchise to take a hard look at what comes next.
Chicago’s decision on Collins wasn’t a surprise inside the building. The veteran center had been battling a right toe sprain since late December, and after further evaluation, team medical staff determined surgery was the only realistic path forward. Collins had been trying to avoid that outcome, but the injury simply never responded the way the Bulls hoped.
Before the toe issue, Collins had already missed the first six weeks of the season with a wrist injury. He managed to appear in only 10 games, averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds. For a player who logged 64 games last season between San Antonio and Chicago, this year never found its rhythm.
Bulls Shut Down Collins After Season Of Stops and Starts
The Bulls didn’t just shut Collins down—they effectively shut the door on any hope of a late‑season return. Billy Donovan hinted earlier in the month that Collins’ comeback was unlikely, noting that the team needed to see how he responded after another two weeks in a protective boot. That response never came. Instead, the injury plateaued, and the risk of further damage outweighed any potential benefit of pushing him back onto the floor.
For Chicago, the move also reflects a broader defensive shift. Collins was expected to give the Bulls a physical interior presence, but with his season cut short, the team has leaned into a more mobile, switch‑heavy approach. Without Collins anchoring the paint, Chicago has tightened its rotations, forced more perimeter pressure, and played some of its most connected defense of the year.
The absence of Collins has pushed the Bulls to rely on speed, length, and activity rather than size. And in stretches, it has worked. Opponents have struggled to exploit mismatches the way they did earlier in the season, and Chicago’s defensive rating has stabilized despite the loss of its primary rim protector.
Ivey’s Two‑Week Absence Adds Another Layer
While Collins’ shutdown was expected, Ivey’s setback stings differently. The Bulls acquired him from Detroit earlier this month, hoping his burst and playmaking would inject life into a backcourt that needed another downhill threat. Instead, he’ll be reevaluated in two weeks after experiencing soreness in his left knee.
Ivey had appeared in four games for Chicago and averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 28 minutes. His energy was immediate. His fit looked promising. And then the knee flared up.
This isn’t the first time Ivey has dealt with lower‑body issues. He fractured his leg midway through his last full season in Detroit and missed time earlier this year with soreness in his right knee, which required surgery in mid‑October. The Bulls will treat this latest setback cautiously, especially with his restricted free agency looming this summer.
