NBA: Chicago Bulls Extend Billy Donovan's Contract Amid Struggles

Last Updated:July 27, 2025, 23:04 IST

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan signed a multi-year extension with the franchise, despite recent struggles.

Chicago Bull's HC Billy Donovan (X)

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has signed a multi-year contract extension, according to a report by ESPN on Sunday.

While the exact terms of the deal were not disclosed, the extension ensures Donovan will remain at the helm beyond the one year that was remaining on his original contract.

Donovan, 60, has led the Bulls since 2020 and is set to continue steering the franchise despite a string of underwhelming seasons. The team finished 39–43 in each of the last two campaigns, landing in ninth place in the Eastern Conference both times. I

n 2023–24, Chicago fell 109–90 to the Miami Heat in the play-in tournament, marking the third straight season they failed to reach the playoffs.

Since Donovan took over, the Bulls have made just one postseason appearance—a first-round exit in 2022. Despite boasting a core that includes DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vučević, the team has struggled with consistency, offensive execution, and injuries to key players, including former All-Star Lonzo Ball, who has not played since January 2022 due to a chronic knee issue.

Hall of Fame Induction Looms

Donovan’s coaching pedigree remains highly respected. He is set to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during ceremonies on September 5–6, split between Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

He earned the honor primarily for his stellar college coaching career, most notably at Florida, where he led the Gators to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.

Donovan made the leap to the NBA in 2015, joining the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he coached for five seasons and compiled a 243–157 record, including five playoff berths. He transitioned to Chicago in 2020 with hopes of rebuilding the Bulls into a perennial contender. While progress has been modest, the front office clearly values Donovan’s leadership and continuity as the franchise searches for its next breakthrough.

Donovan began his coaching journey as an assistant under Rick Pitino at Kentucky from 1989 to 1993 before rising through the college ranks. His Hall of Fame induction this fall will be a milestone moment in an already decorated career.

(with agency inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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