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The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to name Tiago Splitter as their new head coach. Front office executives chose Splitter to replace Billy Donovan following an intensive search, leaning into Splitter’s proven ability to manage player development and align with a long-term organizational vision.
According to Shams Charania at ESPN:
The Bulls conducted a search that spanned a double-digit number of candidates before narrowing the process. They landed on Splitter due to his ability to lead the team’s player development, organizational alignment with the franchise’s direction and vision, and his leadership and knowledge base as a coach who has risen through the ranks since 2018 and played in the NBA for seven years, winning one championship with the San Antonio Spurs.
Splitter, 41, is a former NBA center who spent seven seasons in the league and won a championship with the Spurs in 2014. After transitioning to coaching via player development roles and an assistant gig with the Brooklyn Nets, he joined the Portland Trail Blazers’ staff in June 2025.
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Splitter rose to the lead chair in Portland due to a sudden legal scandal involving head coach Chauncey Billups. At the start of the season, Billups was arrested as part of a federal takedown of a sprawling, illegal high-stakes poker operation. Facing federal charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for allegedly serving as a ‘Face Card’ to lure victims into rigged games, Billups was placed on leave by the franchise.
Thrown into the fire, Splitter excelled as Portland’s interim head coach. He rallied the roster to a 42-40 record, securing the number seven seed and guiding the Blazers to their first postseason berth in five years. He received praise from his players during exit interviews (but maybe not Shaedon Sharpe, who Splitter had a quick hook for in the playoffs).
With Splitter heading to Chicago, the Blazers are deep into their own coaching search. Two primary candidates remain on their short list: Tyler Lashbrook (assistant coach for the Boston Celtics) and Micah Nori (highly regarded lead assistant for the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tiago-splitter-coach-chicago-bulls-175724048.html
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Publish date : 2026-06-15 17:57:00
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