The organization is now on the hunt for a new coach. Here’s an initial look at the background of five candidates who have emerged, according to multiple reports.
The list is in alphabetical order.
Atkinson, 53, took over as Nets coach in 2016 and drew rave reviews for his work in creating a hard-working team-first culture with a young group. After two ugly seasons, the Nets took a big leap by going 42-40 and making the playoffs in 2018-’19.
In an ironic twist, the foundation that Atkinson laid contributed to him losing his job. That organizational ascension made the Nets an attractive destination in free agency, and they landed two stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in summer 2019.
With the Nets struggling at 28-34 – without Durant all season and with Irving limited to 20 games because of injuries – Atkinson and Brooklyn parted ways on March 7. The team framed Atkinson’s exit as a mutual decision, with general manager Sean Marks explaining that his voice no longer resonated with his players.
In the minds of some, that unceremonious exit has tagged Atkinson with the reputation of struggling to connect with stars in a star-driven league. It’s probably overblown, given that both Durant and Irving have been a combination of complicated, detached and prickly throughout their professional careers.
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Atkinson has drawn praise for his work with young players, which should be a draw for the Bulls in their current situation.
Atkinson served as an assistant under Mike D’Antoni with the Knicks and Mike Budenholzer with the Hawks before taking charge of the Nets. Both coaches have directed fast-paced, modern offenses, which Karnisovas has cited as a hallmark of what he wants to see for the Bulls.
What Atkinson didn't do a lot of in Brooklyn was win, as he compiled a 118-190 record (.383) in leading the Nets for four seasons.
Griffin, 46, is plenty familiar with the Bulls. He played three seasons in Chicago – 2004-’05 and then 2006-’08. He also served as an assistant for Tom Thibodeau from 2010-’15 and was an influential mentor for future All-Star wing Jimmy Butler as he struggled and grew early in his career.
Among NBA executives, Griffin has long been considered a strong candidate to become a head coach. In addition to his time on the Bulls’ bench, Griffin has been an assistant for the Bucks, Magic, Thunder and most recently the Raptors, with whom he won a championship last summer.
Griffin is known for his strong relationships with players, his player development work and a low-key, smooth demeanor. Griffin doesn’t have head coaching experience outside of previously leading the Bulls in Summer League play.
"He’s got a great personality for it," Raptors coach Nick Nurse previously told the Athletic Chicago about Griffin’s potential fit as a head coach. "It’s different. He’s not a type-A, hardline coach. He’s more like a fatherly figure (in terms) of personality. He has a calmness about him. He seems like a wise person when he’s conveying something. For me, it’s a great mix for our staff. It may not appear, sometimes, that he’s got this coaching gene or whatever. But he sure does."
Griffin and new Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas were college teammates at Seton Hall.
On Thursday, a serious allegation made about Griffin surfaced that could turn away teams previously interested in him. His ex-wife accused him of domestic abuse. Griffin "vehemently" denied the accusations.
Ham, 47, has been Milwaukee’s lead assistant under Budenholzer since 2018 after previously working under him in Atlanta for five seasons. Under this coaching regime, the Bucks have compiled the most wins across the past two seasons and earned the No. 1 seed again in the East.
They’ve also played an entertaining brand of basketball marked by selflessness and spacing around star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Ham played in the NBA for eight seasons before getting into coaching. He also has coaching experience with the Lakers under Mike Brown and in the G League.
Udoka, 43, worked as a Spurs assistant under Gregg Popovich for seven seasons before joining the 76ers as Brett Brown’s lead assistant ahead of this season.
He has served as Philadelphia’s de facto defensive coordinator. Udoka had plenty of talent to work with, and he helped guide a unit that was sixth in the NBA in defensive efficiency when the league suspended its season. In San Antonio, he was praised for his work in the organization’s player development machine.
Udoka has a connection to the Bulls’ new regime, as recently hired general manager Marc Eversley worked in the 76ers’ front office previously.
Udoka interviewed for the Cavaliers’ head coaching job in May 2019, a position that was eventually filled by John Beilein. He doesn’t have head coaching experience outside of previously leading the Spurs in Summer League action.
Udoka had a seven-year NBA playing career and also competed for the Nigerian national team.
Unseld is the son of the late Wes Unseld, a Hall of Famer and NBA legend. The younger Unseld played collegiately at Division-III John’s Hopkins, after which he embarked on his coaching career.
Unseld has a direct connection to Karnisovas, as he has been a Nuggets assistant since 2015. So they worked together in the same organization for nearly five years. Unseld has been Mike Malone’s lead assistant since 2016, receiving praise for his work with young players.
Unseld interviewed for the Cavaliers’ job that went to Beilein in 2019.
The Nuggets have had a number of young players break out under this coaching regime, with center Nikola Jokic growing into an all-NBA player, guard Jamal Murray developing into a standout player and forward Michael Porter Jr. recently starring in the NBA bubble.