Screenshot via YouTube
NBC Sports Chicago uses the same general scorebug template as the other NBC Sports regional networks covering the NBA, but the Bulls version feels like it gets a little more out of the design than some of the other markets. The red and black color scheme is one of the most iconic in basketball, and it translates well into this particular template. The result is a clean, functional scorebug that sits a step above what you might expect from a shared network design.
The NBC Sports template is compact and stays out of the way during gameplay. Team logos and abbreviations are positioned on the left, with the score clearly displayed and the game clock on the right side. It does not stretch across the bottom of the screen like the FanDuel Sports Network scorebug, which is an immediate win. The whole thing is proportioned well and gives each piece of information enough space without feeling cramped.
What makes the Bulls version work a little better than some other NBC Sports markets is the color combination. The Chicago red pops against the darker elements of the template, creating natural contrast that helps readability. Compare that to a team with a more muted color palette on the same template, and the Bulls version just reads better on screen. The iconic bull logo also scales down well at scorebug size, which is not true for every NBA logo.
The main limitation is that this is still a shared template at the end of the day. NBC Sports Chicago does not get a fully custom scorebug the way MSG does for the Knicks or YES Network does for the Nets. It is the same bones, just with different colors. That keeps it from reaching the top tier.
Our Grade: B+
The Bulls NBC Sports Chicago scorebug gets a B+ from us. It is a clean design that benefits from one of the best color schemes in basketball. The NBC Sports template is solid across the board, and the Bulls version is one of the stronger executions of it.