Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has agreed to a contract extension with the franchise, ESPN reported Sunday, July 27.
Donovan, who has been the Bulls’ coach since 2020-21, is 195-205 in his five seasons with Chicago and is entering his 11th season as NBA coach, spending his first five seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Bulls were 39-43 last season and finished in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. They lost to the Miami Heat in the play-in game. Chicago has been to the playoffs once under Donovan – a first-round loss to Milwaukee after going 46-36 in 2021-22.
Donovan won two NCAA men’s basketball national titles at Florida in 2006 and 2007 and played in a Final Four in 2014. He took the Oklahoma City job in 2015 and has been in the NBA since.
Why did Billy Donovan get a contract extension?
The Bulls like stability, and Donovan provides that with his coaching and relationships with players, front office and ownership. Donovan enjoys coaching in the NBA and living in Chicago.
The two sides have been working on extension for months, and at the trade deadline in February, Donovan told reporters, ‘I want to be part of building something.’
The New York Knicks requested permission to speak with Donovan about their previously open head coaching position but were denied.
Which direction are the Bulls headed?
As the Eastern Conference improves with teams such as the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic moving toward deep playoff runs alongside Cleveland, New York, Indiana, Milwaukee and Boston, the Bulls seem stuck in neutral. They were 39-43 in 2023-24 and 40-42 in 2022-23.
They have tried to make playoff runs with DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nik Vucevic, Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball. Injuries, especially Ball missing two seasons, derailed Chicago’s plans, and only Vucevic remains on the roster.
Chicago has young talent it is trying to develop, including Matas Buzelis, the No. 11 pick in the 2024 draft, and Noa Essengue, the No. 12 pick in the 2025 draft. They are also working to bring back restricted free agent Josh Giddey on a long-term deal.