Billy Donovan has had a lackluster stint in Chicago. Over four seasons, he holds a 156-162 record, winning 49% of his games. He’s missed the playoffs in three of his four years at the helm and is staring down the barrel of a fourth campaign out of five. According to Las Vegas sportsbooks, despite reports that he inked a “several-year” extension last fall, Donovan’s time in Chicago may end soon. Each of his four seasons has been riddled with injury problems and spoiled by the redundant attempt to reach the postseason and make deep playoff runs with the same trio of Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan. Whether this was his decision or not to continue trying the same incompatible trio, it would seem he’s next on the chopping block. The Chicago Bulls front office finally decided to end the experiment, opt for a younger future, and keep the keys in Donovan’s pocket for now.
Player Development Will Be The Determining Factor
Much of Donovan’s success at the collegiate level was thanks to his ability to develop talent, extract the best from his players, and band together a group chasing a greater goal. At the professional level, he’s underwhelmed in all three categories. His first crack was in Oklahoma City, where he was tasked with conjoining three MVP-caliber players, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant, to make a Championship push. Despite consistent postseason appearances, he could never reach the peak of that grouping’s potential. In Chicago, Vucevic, LaVine, and DeRozan never experienced success together in their three years of experimentation.
With an influx of youthful talent like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis and the emergence of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, this year will show whether or not the Bulls’ head coach can develop young players. Patrick Williams remains the main argument against Donovan’s ability to find the best in his assets, as he’s made little to no improvement since his rookie campaign.
Most Likely Head Coach To Be Fired
According to the Bovada Sportsbook, Billy Donovan is the most likely coach to be shown the door first in the 2024-25 NBA season. With no postseason success and under a .500 winning rate with the team entering his fifth season, there’s little evidence that he should stay. Many former players have praised his ability to coach, including DeRozan and Caruso’s recent departures, but the fit in Chicago hasn’t produced results.
Arturas Karnisovas, Chicago’s front office leader, has already made it known that this team’s intentions are still to win every game, make the postseason, and pursue a Championship. If Donovan fails to reach the second round of the NBA Playoffs for his fifth straight year in the Windy City, it’s hard to imagine he would see a sixth try when 2025 rolls around. With a top-10 protected pick in the upcoming draft and the three most talented players on the roster under 25, this could be the beginning of a mass rebuild in Chicago.
