Overview
- The Chicago Bulls introduced Tiago Splitter as the franchise’s 25th head coach in Chicago on Wednesday, June 17, with executive VP Bryson Graham saying the month-long search ended with Splitter as the choice.
- Splitter earned league interest after taking over as the Portland Trail Blazers’ interim coach this past season and guiding the team to a 42-40 record, a play-in win and a postseason berth.
- At his introductory news conference Splitter declined to explain why he left Portland, saying simply, “I really want to leave that behind.”
- Local reporting and public commentary have linked Splitter’s exit to recent cost-cutting moves and staff layoffs by Blazers owner Tom Dundon, though Splitter has not confirmed a cause.
- The Bulls plan to build around player development and their lottery assets, and the next steps are hiring staff and implementing Splitter’s development-focused system for Chicago’s young roster.