Billy Donovan’s Surprising Commitment: What This Multi-Year Extension Means for the Future of the Chicago Bulls

DeRozan and LaVine are gone, and the Bulls are betting Donovan is the coach to help them transition to what’s next. Last season, Donovan attempted to change things up, pushing for a faster tempo, which worked with the arrival of Josh Giddey (who is at his best in open space). Chicago now has to work out its long-term contract with Giddey, although that will get done before the season starts.

Second, how much of that record is on Donovan, and how much should be on Karnisovas and Eversley for the rosters given the coach? Donovan was given a roster that, for much of the past five years, was built around DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic, with the front office also making a big bet on Patrick Williams. You get what you pay for, and Donovan did as well with this as could be expected.When the whispers first started about Billy Donovan’s future in Chicago, there was a buzz that something was simmering just beneath the surface. Talks about extending Donovan’s contract kicked off during the season, and things were moving steadily before the Knicks poked their nose in, seeking a chance to chat with him. Chicago’s quick rebuttal slammed that door shut, but hey — when other teams start dialing, your leverage invariably goes up. Now, it’s official: Donovan has inked a shiny multi-year extension, sealing his fate atop the Bulls’ bench for the foreseeable future. His roughly even win-loss ledger and a lone playoff appearance might not scream dominance, yet the Bulls’ front office firmly stands by their guy and the power trio running the show. They’re betting on Donovan’s ability to steer this squad through its next evolution — especially with fresh faces like Josh Giddey injecting some zip into their pace. Despite the bumps and bruises over past seasons, the narrative is clear: the Bulls are committed to Donovan, and whatever shape Chicago basketball takes down the line, don’t expect their coach to change anytime soon. LEARN MOREConversations between the Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan regarding an extension began during the season and were well underway before the New York Knicks called to express interest and request permission to speak with Donovan. Chicago shot down New York, but for Donovan’s camp, it never hurts negotiations to have other teams calling about the coach.Donovan has a 195-205 record across five seasons coaching the Bulls, and he led them to the playoffs once (a first-round exit at the hands of the Bucks in 2022). The past three seasons, the Bulls have not advanced past the play-in tournament.The deal is done, Donovan signed a multi-year extension, a story broken by ESPN’s Shams Charania and confirmed by Bulls PR.

Whatever the Bulls are going to look like in a couple of years, we know who their coach will be.That record would have a lot of coaches polishing their resumes and looking for a new gig, but two things are different with Donovan. First, ownership in Chicago likes the current power structure and has recently extended the contracts of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley — the entire management team is locked in.