The Chicago Bulls are finalizing the hiring of Tiago Splitter as their new head coach, ESPN reported Monday, moving toward an NBA coaching change after Splitter's successful interim run with the Portland Trail Blazers.
ESPN reported that Splitter will succeed Billy Donovan in Chicago. The story remains framed as a hire being finalized, not a formal team announcement.
Splitter Moves Toward Bulls Job
Splitter, 41, stepped into Portland's head-coaching job last season and guided the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and a postseason berth as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference, according to ESPN.
ESPN reported that Splitter became the first Trail Blazers coach to post a winning record in his first season with the team since Maurice Cheeks in 2001-02. He also became the first coach to win a playoff game in his first season in Portland since Mike Dunleavy in 1997-98.
The Trail Blazers went 30-21 over their final 51 regular-season games under Splitter, while ranking as a top-10 defense during that stretch. ESPN also reported Portland led the NBA in second-chance points per game under him.
Chicago Search Reaches Final Stage
ESPN reported that Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham and his front-office staff met with four finalists last week in Chicago: Splitter, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr.
The Bulls' search covered double-digit candidates before narrowing, according to ESPN. The report said Chicago landed on Splitter because of his player-development profile, alignment with the franchise's direction and his leadership track record as a rising coach.
Portland Faces Another Search
Splitter's move would leave Portland needing another head coach after he had been one of the Trail Blazers' finalists for the full-time job. ESPN reported that Nori and Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook are the remaining Portland candidates and are expected to meet with ownership.
Splitter was selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 28 pick in the 2007 NBA draft and later played for San Antonio, Atlanta and Philadelphia. He won a championship with the Spurs during a seven-year NBA playing career.
After retiring, Splitter joined the Brooklyn Nets as a scout and player-development staff member in 2018. He later worked as a Houston Rockets assistant under Ime Udoka, coached Paris Basketball in the 2024-25 Euroleague season and returned to the NBA as Chauncey Billups' lead assistant in Portland.