Billy Donovan III is out as head coach of the Windy City Bulls.
Chicago confirmed the split with a thank-you post on social media Wednesday afternoon, though the exact nature of the departure wasn’t made clear. It remains unknown whether Donovan III was fired, whether the two sides reached a mutual agreement, or whether he decided to move on himself.
What is clear is that his connection to the Bulls organization had been fading for months. After the Reinsdorfs fired the front office of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, Billy Donovan, the former Bulls head coach, chose to leave the franchise as well.
Chicago had reportedly been prepared to keep him in the fold and even indicated it would only bring in a new lead executive who was comfortable working with him. Donovan instead stepped away, and the team later hired Bryson Graham as its new lead executive before Graham named Tiago Splitter as the Bulls’ next head coach.
Donovan III spent two full seasons running Windy City, taking over before the 2024-25 campaign. Over that span, he guided the club to a 26-44 regular-season record.
Donovan has since taken a lead assistant job with the San Antonio Spurs, which naturally puts that franchise on the radar when it comes to his son. Billy Donovan III already has history there, having worked as an assistant with San Antonio’s G League affiliate before joining the NBA staff in 2019-20, according to RealGM.
Now the Windy City Bulls have another opening to address as they head into what could be a meaningful season. G League matters can get overlooked, but not for a rebuilding team that expects to keep adding developmental talent. That makes the affiliate more important than ever.
It’s part of why Bryson Graham moved quickly to shake up Windy City’s front office, starting with the firing of GM Josh Malone. Graham then brought in Alex Kaufman as the new GM, a move that reunited him with someone he had worked with in New Orleans.
The Bulls may not suddenly turn every conversation toward Windy City, but there are real names to watch. Jaylin Sellers flashed enough in Summer League to suggest he could become a real NBA piece with the right G League reps. Dailyn Swain, the No. 15 overall pick, could also end up spending time there this season.
Noa Essengue is another player who could factor into the equation. He’s coming back from season-ending shoulder surgery and looked lost at times in Las Vegas, but the upside that made him a lottery pick in 2025 is still there. The G League could be a big part of getting him back on track.
It may not be the top priority for the revamped Bulls, but there’s now one more important hire to make before next season gets underway.
In Other News...
Bulls Schedule Puts Early Pressure On A Rebuild Already Under Scrutiny
The NBAs release of the 2026-27 schedule gives the Bulls their first real road map for a season that already figures to be watched closely in Chicago. They open with two road games before coming home for a matchup with the Washington Wizards, and the league has also handed them three nationally televised games, a small but meaningful sign that the Bulls will remain under a brighter spotlight than some of their peers during the first months of the rebuild.
Beyond the marquee dates, the slate lays out the kind of grind that can shape how a young roster is judged: back-to-backs, extended road trips, the NBA Cup group stage and a handful of noted return dates for players who will draw extra attention whenever the Bulls see them. For a team trying to establish direction while answering questions about the rebuild, the schedule does not offer much breathing room, and Chicago will find out quickly whether its reset can hold up against the travel and the scrutiny. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Keep Reshaping Their Staff Around A Very Clear Future
The Bulls continue to put their stamp on the organization before the 2026-27 season, this time adding Jordan Brink as an assistant coach and director of player development. Brink arrives with a background that includes stops with the Knicks and Pistons, and his rsum fits the kind of dual-purpose hire Chicago has been making as it reshapes both its bench and its developmental pipeline.
Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter have been steering a broader staff overhaul, and Brinks arrival is another sign that the Bulls are building with a clear long view in mind. For a team trying to align its front office, coaching staff and player development infrastructure, these hires matter because they point to a unified plan rather than isolated moves. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Have A Real Chance At A Young Backcourt Upgrade
Bennedict Mathurins future has become one of the more interesting offseason plots for a Bulls team that is still looking for ways to add young talent to the backcourt. The restricted free agent was acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers, but he has not gotten a clear signal that a new contract offer is coming, and the Clippers recent decision to re-sign Bradley Beal only adds another layer to the uncertainty around where Mathurin fits.
For Chicago, the appeal is obvious. The Bulls have been searching for a way to upgrade their guard rotation with a player who still has room to grow, and Mathurin checks that box if the market opens up the right way. There have been exploratory conversations between the two sides, and the structure of a deal would tell a lot about how aggressively Chicago wants to pursue the upside here. For now, it is enough to say the Bulls have positioned themselves in a conversation that could matter more as the rest of free agency settles in. [Read more 🡒]