NBA News: Chicago Bulls Hire Billy Donovan As New Head Coach

The Chicago Bulls have found their replacement for Jim Boylen starting the 2021 NBA season – former Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan.

The Bulls made the announcement on Tuesday shortly after the deal was finalized through Donovan's representative, Oliver Winterbone of Wasserman Media Group, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wrote.

Several candidates had been considered for the job before Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations, went in pursuit of Donovan as soon as the 55-year-old parted his ways with the Thunder shortly after their first-round playoff exit in the Orlando bubble.

"We are very pleased to welcome Billy and his family to the Chicago Bulls," Karnisovas said.

"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.”

It seemed that Karnisovas has followed Donovan way back the latter's active playing days. According to him, Donovan’s winning credentials both as player and coach makes a perfect candidate for the Bulls’ top post on the sidelines.

Taking the helm to handle a Bulls squad loaded with young talents is a daunting task for Donovan, especially with the expectations set on him by Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, who both believed he was the best coach available in the market.

But the New York-born coach is embracing the challenge as he said that he is looking forward to working with the storied franchise.

"I'm excited to partner with Arturas as we work together on behalf of this historic franchise," Donovan said in a statement.

Players of the team immediately expressed their excitement on Donovan’s hiring.

Star guard Zach Lavine, who was playing video games when he found out the news, was surprised as he could not contain his elation on the chance to play under Donovan.

“D***, we just got Billy Donovan as our next head coach… wow, that’ll be good,” the 25-year-old said.

It has been years since the last time the Bulls were deemed as legitimate contenders in the NBA. But with Donovan providing a major boost for a roster that shows nothing but a promising future in Chicago, fans are keeping their fingers crossed that the spell could be finally broken soon.