The Chicago Bulls have appointed former Oklahoma City Thunder coach Billy Donovan as their new head coach, the team announced Tuesday.
Basketball Operations Operations Arturas Karnisovas aggressively chased Donovan after he left the Oklahoma City Thunder five seasons, sources said Donovan had to sell on a partnership and vision for a talented young roster and get one of the league’s anchor franchises. .
Li Don Winterbow, a representative of Don Don Sowa, Warserman Media Group, finalized the deal with Chicago officials on Tuesday, sources said.
Karnisova and GM Mark Eversley believed Donovan was the best coach available on the market, and his track record in Oklahoma City – which included five straight playoff trips to the Western Conference – made him a good fit for the Bulls. Donovan, 55, was the National Basketball Coach Association’s co-coach of the year for the year 2020-20 with Mike Boudenholzer of Milwaukee. NBA coaches vote on the award. Kornisovas fired former coach Jim Boylen in May, and spoke to a number of candidates before extending the offer fur to Donovan.
In season five, Donovan entered the Western Conference finals in his first season with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and reached every playoff in the next four years. Donovan was 243-157 (.608) as the Thunder coach. Donovan signed an initial five-year deal with Thunder after arriving from the University of Florida, where he won two national championships.
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