Overview
- ESPN and The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Chicago Bulls are finalizing an agreement to hire Tiago Splitter as their next head coach, though the club had not yet issued an official announcement.
- Splitter, 41, won an NBA title as a player with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014 and spent a year coaching Paris Basketball before joining the Portland staff as an assistant in summer 2025.
- He was elevated to interim head coach after Chauncey Billups’ October arrest and guided the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and their first playoff berth since 2020-21, with a five-game first-round loss to San Antonio.
- Splitter would replace Billy Donovan, who resigned after six seasons, and reports say other candidates considered included Micah Nori, Ryan Schmidt and Wes Unseld Jr.
- The hire would give Chicago a coach known for European team-building and player development while the Bulls enter a period of roster flexibility that could shape free-agent targets and the development of young players such as Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.