Per numerous reports out of Chicago, the Bulls are planning to hire former Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter as the team’s newest bench boss.
Splitter will take over the role Billy Donovan held since 2020 before the former collegiate standout and the franchise parted ways this season. The 41 year old was thrust into the head coaching role in Portland this year after Chauncey Billups became embroiled in a federal gambling investigation.
After taking over, the Trail Blazers were a top ten defensive team in the NBA across their final 51 games of the season, while leading the Association in second chance points. Portland would ultimately go 30-21 under Splitter, leading to a playoff appearance before bowing out in the first round in 5 games to San Antonio.
The Brazilian power forward had an extensive career in both the NBA (Spurs, Hawks, 76ers) as well as overseas (Ipiranga, Saski Baskonia, Araba Gorago Alava, Bilbao Basket, and Valencia). He was a member of the 2014 championship winning Spurs team, and has a wide array of trophies from the Spanish, EuroLeague, and French professional ranks as well.
According to reports, the Bulls reduced their applicant pool down to four finalists with whom they met in Chicago last week. That list is believed to have been Splitter, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr.
Nori is believed to be a finalist for the Trail Blazers job which now has one less candidate following the Bulls hiring of Splitter, while Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook is believed to be the other.
Chicago went 31-51 in 2025-26, which was good for 12th spot in the Eastern Conference. The team hasn’t won a playoff series since the 2014-15 campaign, which is also the last time the team won 50 or more games in a season. Since then, the team has had a record above .500 at season’s end just twice.
The Bulls will select 4th overall in this year’s NBA Draft which will take place on June 23rd and 24th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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