Bulls’ Isaac Okoro’s advanced stats tell a complicated story

Isaac Okoro has become one of the Chicago Bulls’ early-season talking points, fueling several narratives that fans are debating online. The Bulls, like every NBA team, have plenty of storylines.

Okoro’s role stands out as the most polarizing. He’s a role player elevated to the starting lineup and playing steady rotation minutes, averaging about 25 per game with 19 in his latest outing.

In his last 12 games, Isaac Okoro is shooting 50% from the field, 40.5% from 3, 83.3% from the FT line. In this same timeframe, Kevin Huerter is shooting 32% from 3. & PWill is shooting 39-40-70. The stats are the stats. https://t.co/K0mB1B2l7z

— See Red Fred (@cbefred) November 21, 2025

Over his last 12 games, Isaac Okoro has quietly found his touch by shooting 50 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from three, and 83.3 percent from the free throw line. During that same stretch, Kevin Huerter has hit just 32 percent of his threes, and Patrick Williams has hovered around splits of 39 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep, and 70 percent at the line. The numbers speak for themselves.

Supporters view him more as a defensive tone setter brought in to reshape the Bulls’ identity, while critics argue he hasn’t made the impact they expected and should be moved to the bench or even out of the rotation entirely.

Stats don’t lie for the Bulls’ and Isaac Okoro

But the stats also don’t back up the claims about Okoro’s individual defense. NBA.com lists him with a 118.7 defensive rating, meaning opponents score nearly 118 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor.

That’s not the profile of a defensive stopper. At the same time, the blame doesn’t fall solely on him because he shares the court with several players who aren’t known for their defense. In fact, no rotation player on the Bulls has posted a defensive rating better than 113 this season.

Another factor is the caliber of players Okoro consistently faces. He has spent much of the season chasing primary options like Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jamal Murray, and that is a demanding assignment for any defender. His defensive rating likely stems from being asked to slow down elite scorers every night rather than any shortcomings in his approach.

Okoro’s offensive rating has collapsed from 121 last season to 111 this year, a decline that highlights how rough his advanced numbers have become. His usage rate also remains extremely low because he spends most possessions parked off the ball, taking shots only when defenders completely ignore him.

Watching Okoro on the court, it’s obvious he plays with effort and intensity, and he carries a strong reputation in the locker room. Still, the numbers don’t lie.

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