The comments from Anfernee Simons were somewhat surprising. Not only that an NBA free agent-to-be was insisting that he wanted to return to his current team — that’s just smart business — but also how many times Simons said it. If he were trying to sell the media on his happiness while playing in a […]
Viewership of NBA regular-season games up 86% over last season
NEW YORK — The numbers are in, and the NBA says Year 1 of its new television deals were a hit. The league released numbers for the regular season on Wednesday, showing that 170 million people in the U.S. watched NBA games across the league’s four primary broadcast platforms this year — those being ABC/ESPN, […]
Now that Bulls have captured a second first-round pick, what can they do?
It might prove to be the best move of the Arturas Karnisovas Era, and it took 1,691 days to show itself. Thanks to the Lauri Markkanen three-way trade to Cleveland on Aug. 27, 2021, Karnisovas — the recently fired Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations — acquired a first-round pick from Portland that was […]
Now that Bulls have captured a second first-round pick, what can they do?
It might prove to be the best move of the Arturas Karnisovas Era, and it took 1,691 days to show itself. Thanks to the Lauri Markkanen three-way trade to Cleveland on Aug. 27, 2021, Karnisovas — the recently fired Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations — acquired a first-round pick from Portland that was […]
Gut-check time for coach Billy Donovan as the Bulls await his decision
Billy Donovan is go-by-the-gut type of guy. It’s more than worked for him, whether it was to stay at Providence and continue playing for a young coach named Rick Pitino, walk away from a Wall Street job right out of college and pursue coaching, or turn down an Orlando head coaching job 15 years ago […]
Gut-check time for coach Billy Donovan as the Bulls await his decision
Billy Donovan is go-by-the-gut type of guy. It’s more than worked for him, whether it was to stay at Providence and continue playing for a young coach named Rick Pitino, walk away from a Wall Street job right out of college and pursue coaching, or turn down an Orlando head coaching job 15 years ago […]
It becomes numbers game for Bulls coach Billy Donovan and his decision
DALLAS – Emotions and relationships will always carry weight for Billy Donovan. The Bulls coach has discussed that in length when he retraces a journey that started under mentor Rick Pitino as an assistant coach some 37 years ago, eventually leading him to Springfield, enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. So when he […]
‘The Decision’ is coming: Billy Donovan and his future with the Bulls
DALLAS — There will be no Boys & Girls Club anywhere in sight. Jim Gray, LeBron James? Stay at home. This “decision” is Bulls coach Billy Donovan’s to make and his to make alone. He made that clear Sunday with the regular season ending in the 149-128 loss to Dallas and his future up in […]
Bulls forward Isaac Okoro enters another offseason of uncertainty
DALLAS – There’s a business of basketball that Isaac Okoro has become very accustomed to. In his previous few seasons in Cleveland, the forward was seemingly a trade rumor several times a calendar year. February, his name was typically floating around at the deadline, and then of course during the summer months. That was until […]
Bulls forward Isaac Okoro enters another offseason of uncertainty
DALLAS – There’s a business of basketball that Isaac Okoro has become very accustomed to. In his previous few seasons in Cleveland, the forward was seemingly a trade rumor several times a calendar year. February, his name was typically floating around at the deadline, and then of course during the summer months. That was until […]
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis likely done for season, but he talks about future
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis was at a loss for words when reporters asked him to evaluate his season. ‘‘I don’t really know,’’ Buzelis said after the Bulls’ loss Friday to the Magic. ‘‘What did I accomplish this year?’’ When he was told he became one of six players in NBA history to have made at […]
Bulls forward Leonard Miller continues showing he’s more than just a throw-in
Forward Leonard Miller seemed to be a throw-in. He sure hasn’t played like one. As the trade deadline was winding down Feb. 5, the Bulls announced a deal that sent popular guard Ayo Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips to the Timberwolves for guard Rob Dillingham, four future second-round picks and Miller. ‘‘I think he played […]
Guard Josh Giddey speaks about the state of the Bulls moving forward
There are some things that are out of Bulls guard Josh Giddey’s pay grade. That was the approach he took Friday, and he didn’t stray from it. So when the subject of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley being fired was raised, Giddey took the high road and […]
As Reinsdorf meeting looms, Bulls coach Billy Donovan should run — and run fast!
Run, Billy! Just freakin’ run! Like your last name was Gump, like O.J. in airports and in white Broncos, like DMC was your partner, like Ryan Poles gave you a contract to replace D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, like Sha’Carri Richardson would be afraid to line up against you, as if your career depended on […]
Bulls fail in deer hunting as win over Wizards draws a tie with Bucks
WASHINGTON – Billy Donovan knows the percentages and knows the standings. The Bulls coach won’t be budging off his stance no matter what the numbers say. In once again being out-tanked by the slumping Wizards on Thursday, the 119-108 win put the Bulls in a tie with Milwaukee as the No. 9 and No. 10 […]
Bulls guard Rob Dillingham knows his real work hasn’t even started
WASHINGTON — It admittedly didn’t take very long for Rob Dillingham to count his blessings. Asked on Thursday if his increased minutes over the last four games has reiterated how important the change of scenery from Minnesota was for him at the trade deadline, he responded, “For sure. It only took me like a few […]
Bulls team president Michael Reinsdorf wants boxes checked on next hire
WASHINGTON — The list was right next to Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf, itching to be read. Reinsdorf was just waiting for someone to ask. As his Zoom meeting Tuesday with the media was winding down, however, he went ahead and revealed what he’ll be looking for in his next basketball operations executive. The list contained […]
Bulls willing to take a look at philosophy when it comes to tanking
WASHINGTON — It isn’t very often that Michael Reinsdorf speaks publicly about the state of the Bulls. Then again, it isn’t very often that the team president makes the decision to remove a front office before a season ends and before it has at least a decade on the job. He did both in 24 […]
Meeting is still everything, but Bulls coach Billy Donovan sounded sold
WASHINGTON — The meeting is still everything next week. Billy Donovan made that very clear on Tuesday in his first presser with the media since vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley — the men that were responsible for him being the Bulls coach — were fired 24 hours earlier. […]
Angel Reese is gone, the Bulls are starting over and another Cubs pitcher is hurt? Been one heck of a day
Just another manic Monday? Uh, no. Holy sports meltdown, Chicago. Sky superstar Angel Reese: shipped out of town. Bulls execs Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley: fired into the sun. Cubs Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd: sent to the injured list, where he can hang out and compare arm woes with pals Cade Horton and Justin […]