
It’s a moment forever etched in Chicago Bulls history: May 8, 2015. Derrick Rose, the hometown hero, banked in a buzzer-beating three over the outstretched arm of Tristan Thompson to lift the Bulls over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The United Center erupted. Fans screamed, Rose barely cracked a smile, and the Bulls took a 2–1 series lead over LeBron James and company. It felt like a turning point, not just in the series, but in the franchise’s journey back to title contention.
What no one realized that night was how long that win would linger—not just in memory, but in the record books.
As of 2025, that stunning game-winner remains the last time the Bulls won a home playoff game. A full decade has passed. In that time, Chicago has cycled through rosters, head coaches, front office leaders, and countless strategies to recapture the magic of that Rose-led squad. But when it comes to playoff success—especially on their home floor—the drought has been unrelenting.
A Decade of Disappointment
Since that 2015 victory, the Bulls have only made the playoffs twice—in 2017 and 2022. Neither run produced anything close to a deep postseason push.
In 2017, a veteran-heavy Bulls team featuring Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rajon Rondo shocked the Boston Celtics with two road wins to open the first-round series. But after Rondo’s injury, the series flipped. Chicago dropped four straight, including both games at the United Center, and was sent home in six. The crowd that once thundered in support of Rose’s heroics now watched their team fold without a fight.
Then came 2022, when the DeMar DeRozan-led Bulls faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. While DeRozan exploded for 41 points in Game 2 on the road to steal a win in Milwaukee, the series was short-lived after that. The Bulls lost Games 3 and 4 at home by a combined 54 points. Once again, the UC faithful were left without a playoff victory to celebrate.
Why the Struggle?
There are several reasons behind this frustrating stat. Since 2015, the Bulls have lacked the consistency, star power, and postseason identity that defined the early 2010s squads. Injuries to key players like Lonzo Ball, inconsistent roster building, and multiple coaching changes have stunted their progress.
While the team has had flashes—Zach LaVine’s scoring outbursts, DeRozan’s clutch performances, Nikola Vučević’s double-double consistency—the Bulls haven’t been able to put it all together when it matters most. And for whatever reason, the home court advantage that once defined the United Center has disappeared.
A Fan Base That Deserves More
Chicago fans are some of the most passionate in the NBA. They still pack the arena, still wear No. 1 Rose jerseys, still chant “MVP” when DeRozan heats up. But the lack of a playoff home win in 10 years is more than a footnote—it’s a gut punch to a loyal fanbase that once expected playoff runs, not prayed for Play-In spots.
The United Center was once a fortress. During the Rose, Noah, and Thibodeau era, it was loud, gritty, and feared. Now, it’s become a place where postseason dreams go to die.

The Road Ahead
The Bulls are currently in a familiar place—on the fringe of playoff contention. With questions looming about LaVine’s future, Lonzo’s health, and the direction of the front office, fans are understandably skeptical. Can this core truly compete? Can they even break the home playoff curse?
There’s hope in young players like Coby White, Patrick Williams (when healthy), and rookie additions who’ve shown flashes. But at some point, potential has to turn into production—especially when it comes to winning where it matters most: in front of your own fans, under playoff pressure.
Until then, the ghost of Derrick Rose’s game-winner continues to loom over the United Center—not as a celebration of recent success, but as a reminder of how long it’s been since the Bulls truly made noise in May.