The Chicago Bulls enter their matchup Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets with a 35-42 record, good enough for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have five more games remaining in the regular season before they will appear in the Play-In Tournament.
Donovan has a 191-204 record in his fifth season with the Bulls. Chicago appears headed for a rebuild after trading Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan in the past year.
Billy Donovan won a HOF award amid a losing season
It was unclear how safe Donovan was with the Bulls before the upcoming offseason, as the team will finish the regular season with a losing record for a fourth time under the legendary head coach.
On Saturday, Donovan was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The 59-year-old coach had an incredible career at Florida, winning two national titles and taking the Gators to four Final Four appearances.
Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf of Donovan
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf gave a telling quote regarding Donovan when he congratulated the head coach on his nomination to the HOF.
“Billy’s enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame is a testament to a lifetime spent giving everything to the game,” Reinsdorf said via the NBA’s website. “It goes beyond his incredible success as a coach—it’s about the relationships he’s built, the players he’s mentored, and the countless lives he’s touched along the way. Billy has a remarkable basketball mind, but what truly sets him apart is who he is as a person.
“He leads with humility, heart, and a genuine care for everyone around him. Whether it’s his players, his staff, or our community, he always puts others first. We’re incredibly proud to have him as part of the Bulls family, and on behalf of the entire organization, I want to congratulate him on this well-earned and well-deserved honor.”
Donovan’s job appears safe
Per Reinsdorf’s comments, it doesn’t appear that the Bulls are ready to lose one of their “family” members after the season, even if they cannot make the playoffs.
Donovan could be a part of a rebuild in Chicago, something that he missed out on before when he left the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020, who now have the association’s best record. Hopefully, the Bulls will give Donovan the necessary pieces to save the team from mediocrity.
Donovan’s success in getting this team to the Play-In Tournament is a testament of his coaching skills, but could be a detriment to his future success.
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