Chicago Bulls News: Scottie Pippen Not Impressed With Billy Donovan Hire As Head Coach

Retired NBA player and former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen knows what it takes to win. That includes having a proven head coach just like the time when he played under Phil Jackson. But as far as the 55-year-old is concerned, Billy Donovan is not the X-factor that Chicago is looking for.

During an interview with Forbes, Pippen gave his take on the Bulls hiring Donovan to succeed Jim Boylen. The six-time NBA champion said pointed out Donovan’s stint as the Oklahoma City Thunder head coach. That includes failing to deliver an NBA title despite having Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook under his wing.

"If you’re looking at it from a fan perspective, I’m not impressed with what they did," Pippen said. "I don’t think that they have made any dramatic changes that are going to change who they are as a team. That’s just my personal opinion."

"I like Billy Donovan as a person but I don’t think he’s proved anything in the NBA that proves he’s worth investing in and bringing a team up that needs help like Chicago does," he added.

The best Donovan was able to do during his five-season in Oklahoma City was advance beyond the first round of the NBA playoffs once. Though he did make the playoffs every year, Pippen feels Donovan lacks the key ingredient to bring the Bulls back to the top.

"To me, I don’t see the value he brings to them. He’s going to be a coach but there are a lot of them out there. He didn’t do anything special in OKC that warranted him a second opportunity. That’s just my opinion," Pippen said.

The Bulls signed Donovan to a four-year $24 million contract last week, with the executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas hoping the 55-year-old can turn things around for the beleaguered franchise.

For him and general manager Marc Eversley, Donovan was the best coach available and both were impressed with what he had done at OKC, ESPN reported.

"The success that he has sustained over the course of his coaching career puts him on a different level. We feel his ability to help his players reach their potential, both individually and collectively, will mesh well with our roster," Karnisovas said.

He continued, "Whether as a player or as a coach, he has won everywhere his career has taken him, and we hope that will continue here in Chicago."