Bryson Graham is ready to take on the challenge of rebuilding the struggling Bulls

CHICAGO (AP) — The tears flowed as soon as Bryson Graham got the call from the Chicago Bulls. Once they stopped, he turned his attention to the task at hand.

Graham has a big job trying to lift a struggling franchise after Chicago hired him as executive vice president of basketball operations on Monday. Though he’s from San Antonio and rooted for the Spurs, he was also a fan of the Bulls growing up in the 1990s. He understands what the team means to the city and the NBA, decades after Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen captured their sixth championship.

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“When I think about it and I think about the greatness that’s in this building and what’s in these rafters and the championships that have been won here, it’s amazing,” Graham said Wednesday at his introductory news conference. “It impacted my life more than I thought I knew because I was always chasing what this organization represented. You see M.J., and obviously I wanted to be him just like everybody wanted. I wanted that, but it carried over in other aspects of my life, so like my work ethic, my determination, my grit. I’m watching the Bulls and what they displayed and I’m like, ‘That’s what I want.’”

Graham spent this season as Atlanta’s senior vice president of basketball operations after a 15-year run in New Orleans’ front office, during which he climbed from intern to general manager. In Chicago, he has his work cut out for him.

The Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley in early April after six years and one postseason appearance. Chicago finished 12th in the Eastern Conference at 31-51 while missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.

One of Graham’s most important tasks will be hiring a coach. Naismith Hall of Famer Billy Donovan opted to resign after six years, avoiding a potentially awkward situation with new management, even though owner Jerry Reinsdorf hoped to retain him.

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Graham said he hasn’t yet put together a list of candidates. He said he is looking for someone who is strong on both sides and isn’t necessarily a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/bryson-graham-ready-challenge-rebuilding-213739783.html

Author : ANDREW SELIGMAN

Publish date : 2026-05-06 21:37:00

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