Billy Donovan Says He Remains Focused on Bulls Despite UNC Links
billy-donovan-remains-focused-on-bulls-despite-unc-links
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan addressed growing speculation about his future on Wednesday, insisting his attention is on guiding the Bulls through the remainder of the season rather than pursuing the vacant position at the University of North Carolina.
Speaking to reporters before Chicago’s road game in Philadelphia, Donovan, 60, acknowledged the rumors but stopped short of ruling out interest in North Carolina’s opening. “My main focus is on these guys and this new team,” he said. “I understand there’s speculation, but I have to concentrate on what we’re doing here in Chicago.”
Possible Year-Off Scenario
Before the UNC chatter surfaced, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Donovan might consider stepping down after the season to take a year away from coaching. Donovan neither confirmed nor denied that possibility, noting only that the Bulls’ current trajectory has been frustrating. Chicago is headed for a fourth consecutive losing campaign and has not advanced past the play-in tournament since 2022.
Off-Season Talks Planned
Donovan said he intends to meet this spring with executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and ownership to discuss the next phase of the franchise’s rebuild. “A lot of it’s going to be me sitting down with ownership and Artūras to find out, ‘What’s the next step? How do we get out of the middle?’” he explained. He added that the front office’s trade-deadline moves signaled a willingness to take a step back in order to build a more competitive roster.
Within the organization, there is an understanding that a split could occur if Donovan is not aligned with management’s long-term plan. Still, the veteran coach emphasized his competitive drive. “I wanted to get into coaching to win,” he said. “Selfishly, competitively, I want us playing in real, legitimate games.”
No timeline has been set for Donovan’s postseason discussions with team leadership, and he reiterated that his immediate priority is finishing the current schedule. Chicago entered Wednesday’s contest in Philadelphia at 31-38.
Source: Hoops Rumors
