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FILE – In this March 8, 2020 file photo, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan watches during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics in Boston. The Chicago Bulls hired Donovan as their coach on Tuesday, September 22. Donovan, 55, has spent the past five seasons with the Thunder. He replaces Jim Boylen, who was fired after the Bulls finished 22-43 and was one of eight teams that did not qualify for the NBA restart at Walt Disney World. (AP Photo / Michael Dwyer, file)
CHICAGO – Billy Donovan wasn’t on the market for long – not a surprise given that he won every place he trained.
That he’s heading to Chicago could come as a surprise, just because the big, bold moves have been few and far between for the team. On the other hand, these are not the same old Bulls.
Chicago was hugely successful Tuesday, hiring Donovan and landing one of the top candidates in the market to lead a rebuilding team with a revamped headquarters.
Donovan, 55, has spent the past five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He replaces Jim Boylen, who was fired after the Bulls finished 22-43 and was one of eight teams that did not qualify for the NBA restart at Walt Disney World.
In a statement, Donovan thanked the property and said he looks forward to working with the new executive vice president of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas.
“I am excited to partner with Arturas as we work together on behalf of this historic franchise,” he said.
The Bulls entered the season with their sights set on a playoff spot. They were eleventh in the Eastern Conference when play was stopped in March and decided they needed new leadership.
Chicago hired Karnisovas as executive vice president of basketball operations in April from the Denver headquarters and moved John Paxson to an advisory role. The Bulls also hired general manager Marc Eversley to replace fired Gar Forman, and let Boylen go last month.
Donovan was 243-157 as the Thunder’s coach and made the playoffs every year. He was a finalist for Coach of the Year this season after his team exceeded expectations and pushed the Houston Rockets to seven games in the first round of the playoffs. But with their contract expiring, the Thunder announced two weeks ago that they would not return, saying it was a mutual decision.
Prior to his time with the Thunder, Donovan trained for 19 seasons at the University of Florida, winning two NCAA titles.
“We are very excited to welcome Billy and his family to the Chicago Bulls,” Karnisovas said. “The success he has maintained throughout his coaching career puts him on a different level. We believe that your ability to help your players reach their potential, both individually and collectively, will fit in well with our squad. Whether as a player or as a coach, he has won everywhere his career has taken him, and we hope he continues here in Chicago. “
Donovan inherited All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook when he was hired prior to the 2015-16 season. Oklahoma City reached the Western Conference Finals, blowing a 3-1 lead against Golden State.
Durant joined the Warriors after that season, shaking up the Thunder and their fans. But Oklahoma City remained competitive.
Westbrook averaged triple-doubles over the next three seasons and was MVP in 2017. The Thunder traded for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony prior to the 2017-18 season in an effort to challenge Golden State. But they have lost in the first round four times in a row since reaching the conference final.
They went into this season with lower expectations after trading Westbrook to Houston for Chris Paul and sending George to the Los Angeles Clippers for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Danilo Gallinari. But they were 44-28 and pushed the Rockets over the edge in the playoffs.
The Bulls are counting on Donovan to help them after the team missed the postseason for the fourth time in five years.
On the court, the Bulls are led by Zach LaVine, who averaged 25.5 points this season, and Lauri Markkanen, who took a step back. The 7-footer Finn missed 15 games with a pelvic injury and his scoring and rebounding numbers fell.
Chicago hosted the All-Star Game, but did not have a player selected. That underscored how far the Bulls have fallen.
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