DHJ Quick Take
- Departure Announced: Billy Donovan is stepping down as head coach of the Chicago Bulls after a six-season tenure, a decision reached after discussions with team ownership.
- Coaching Record: Donovan leaves with a regular-season record of 226-256 and a 1-4 record in the playoffs, departing as the franchise enters a “deep rebuild” phase.
- Reason for Exit: In his statement, Donovan noted that stepping away now allows the organization to find a new leader who can build their own staff and shape the team’s future direction.
The Billy Donovan era for the Chicago Bulls is over, as Donovan announced on Tuesday that he is leaving the franchise after six seasons.
Donovan went 226-256 in the regular season and 1-4 in the playoffs with the Bulls, who are in deep rebuild mode.
“After a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization, I have decided to step away as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, to allow the search process to unfold,” Donovan said in a statement. “I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent.
“Thank you Jerry and Michael for giving me this opportunity and more importantly, for the relationship that has been forged. I was so blessed to be able to work with such great owners. I owe so much to my players and staff over the last six years. You all have worked side by side with me, day in and day out to drive the Bulls organization forward. And a huge thank you to Bulls fans, your energy, passion and unwavering support provided a home-court advantage that is generally unmatched around the league.”
According to ESPN, Donovan plans to continue his coaching career and will be a viable target moving forward in the NBA landscape. Before coaching the Bulls, Donovan coached the Oklahoma City Thunder for five seasons. He went 243-157 in the regular season and 18-23 in the playoffs with the Thunder.
The Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley on April 6. The franchise made the playoffs just once in the Karnisovas-Eversley-Donovan era.
Chicago won six championships in the ’90s during the Michael Jordan–Scottie Pippen–Phil Jackson era. The franchise hasn’t been back to the NBA Finals since 1998.
The Bulls, who are currently building around Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, will have their own lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and nearly $60 million in cap space to use in free agency this offseason.
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