The Chicago Bulls are signing head coach Billy Donovan to a multiyear contract extension, sources instructed ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday. Although the crew confirmed the extension, the monetary phrases and size of the deal haven’t but been revealed.
The Bulls have been negotiating a contract extension with Donovan since final season. These conversations continued this low season into final week after the New York Knicks expressed curiosity in hiring Donovan for his or her beforehand vacant head coach opening.
“Regardless of the Bulls’ struggles below Donovan, the group values his sturdy management throughout each stage of the franchise,” wrote Shams Charania.
Billy Donovan rose to fame whereas serving as the top coach of the Florida Gators from 1996 to 2015, the place he helped this system win back-to-back championships. After 19 years at Florida, Donovan grew to become the top coach of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the place he remained from 2015 to 2020, when he and the crew agreed to mutually half methods. After that, he wound up in Chicago, the place he has had one playoff look in 5 seasons.
The Bulls are a laughing inventory
This was one of many proudest and best-run organizations in all the world! However that’s not the case anymore. Lengthy gone are the times of Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan. Now, the Windy Metropolis is caught within the Billy Donovan period and may’t appear to search out any means out of it.
This contract extension is a mockery of every part that Michael Jordan did for the town of Chicago. Do you assume MJ would give a contract extension to a coach who hasn’t had a profitable season in three years? Completely not! For some cause, although, proprietor Jerry Reinsdorf has chosen to reward mediocrity with extra money and extra job safety. I guess MJ was wrong; cash was solely a problem when it got here to paying arguably the best basketball participant of all time.
Billy Donovan has not accomplished something to raise the gamers or tradition in Chicago. The one impactful gamers they nonetheless have left from that 2022 playoff look are Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vučević. Nevertheless, that quantity may lower if Vučević is released, as rumors would recommend. That would depart Chicago with Patrick Williams (a disappointing former number-four total choose who can’t rebound or put up factors), White, and Dosunmu. White and Dosunmu aren’t dangerous, however they’ll solely shine as a result of they’re on a mediocre Bulls squad. They each would have a lot smaller roles in the event that they performed for a championship contender.
Hell, even the crew’s file proves that it is a dangerous determination. Granted, Donovan improved on his win complete from his first season to his second in Chicago. Since then, although, the Bulls have barely sniffed the playoffs and have completed three straight years under .500. Plus, they’re 2-3 within the NBA Play-In Event and completed this season with none Play-In wins. They’re regressing in high-pressure conditions below Donovan’s watch!
The Chicago Bulls are arguably the worst-run crew within the NBA. They’ve change into a mediocre franchise that no person takes critically. The Sacramento Kings may make a case for the highest spot, however they really have expertise on their roster and try to make additions and modifications to change into aggressive. In the meantime, the Bulls preserve shedding expertise and refusing to make any management modifications. This franchise, which as soon as was the category of all the sports activities universe, is a joke.
There’s one constructive be aware about this extension. Bulls followers don’t have to fret about watching any regular-season video games. With Billy Donovan on the helm, Chicago is assured to complete the 2025-26 marketing campaign with a file barely under .500 earlier than arising quick within the NBA Play-In Event and lacking out on the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. Hooray for consistency!