The Chicago Bulls announced on Tuesday that Billy Donovan, a former head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, has been named their next head coach.
Following the coach’s departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources claim that Arturas Karnis Ovas, the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations, aggressively pursued Donovan. Karnis Ovas pitched Donovan on a partnership and vision for a young, talented roster as well as an opportunity to lead one of the league’s anchor franchises.
Donovan expressed his gratitude to the team’s ownership “for the opportunity to coach the Chicago Bulls” and expressed his excitement about collaborating with Karnis Ovas in an official statement.
“I’m excited to partner with Arturas as we work together on behalf of this historic franchise,” he stated.
According to insiders, Donovan’s agent, Oliver Winterborne of Wasserman Media Group, completed the agreement with Chicago representatives on Tuesday.
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3 years Donovan was deemed the best coach available by Bobby Marks Karanis Ovas and general manager Marc Eversley, who also thought that the Bulls would benefit from his track record in Oklahoma City, which included five consecutive Western Conference playoff appearances.
“We are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to the Chicago Bulls,” Karnis Ovas stated. “He is on a different level due to the success he has maintained throughout his coaching career. We believe that his capacity to assist his athletes in realizing their full potential on an individual and team level will be a great fit for our team. He has been successful everywhere in his career, both as a player and a coach, and we hope that trend will continue here in Chicago.”
Donovan, 55, shared the 2019–20 National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year award with Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks’ The award is decided by the NBA coaches.
After firing Jim Boylen as head coach in May, Kornilova’s spoke with other contenders before making Donovan an offer.
Donovan made it to the West finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in his debut season with Oklahoma City. Over the following four seasons, he made it to the playoffs. As the OKC coach, Donovan had a 243-157 (.608) record. After graduating from the University of Florida, where he won two national titles, he inked a five-year contract with the Thunder.
The Bulls, who have missed the playoffs for four out of the last five years, are looking on Donovan to pick them up.
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