Bold shift in Bulls’ fortunes: two key players sidelined and one major surgery ahead. Jaden Ivey is out for at least two weeks with left knee soreness, and Zach Collins will undergo season-ending surgery on his right toe, the team announced ahead of hosting the league-leading Detroit Pistons.
Ivey, who Chicago acquired from Detroit on Feb. 3 in a three-team trade aimed at fortifying the rebuild, had shown flashes of the pre-injury form that made him a standout. He previously underwent a season-ending left fibula fracture in January 2025, followed by an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in October 2025, which kept him out for the initial 15 games of this season.
In four appearances for the Bulls, the 24-year-old averaged 11.5 points, four assists, and 28.9 minutes. In 33 games with Detroit earlier this season, he posted 8.2 points, 1.6 assists, and 16.8 minutes per game.
Coach Billy Donovan noted that Ivey had been cleared to log extended minutes upon joining Chicago and did not complain about knee discomfort. Over the next two weeks, Ivey will focus on rebuilding leg strength and then undergo re-evaluation.
“Certainly when he came here and, you know, he started getting more minutes — in the first few games his minutes were in the 30s — you could just see he wasn’t like stopping, starting. He didn’t have that explosiveness that you saw when you watched him play.”
Donovan added that Bulls’ medical staff conducted tests and determined the primary goal is to regain strength. There’s a belief that restoring leg power could bring back his athletic edge.
Separately, 6-foot-9 forward/center Collins has appeared in only 10 games this season for Chicago, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 18.4 minutes. He sat out the first 21 games recovering from a broken hand, then sustained a sore toe in late December.
“I think it’s been really hard for him personally,” Donovan said. “He did everything he wanted to go. Surgery is always the last resort.”
This development creates a notable challenge for the Bulls as they navigate a tighter rotation without two players who were expected to contribute significantly down the stretch, and it spotlights the broader conversation about how teams balance rest, recovery, and competing at a high level during a demanding season.
