(104.3 The Score) New executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham and the Bulls have tabbed Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter to be their new head coach, Shams Charania of ESPN reported Monday.
Splitter, 41, led the Blazers to a 42-40 record and a playoff berth this past season after he took over for previous head coach Chauncey Billups in October after Billups was arrested in connection with a federal investigation into an illegal gambling ring. The playoff berth was Portland’s first since 2021. After advancing out of the play-in round, the Blazers lost to the Spurs in five games the first round.
The Blazers ranked 21st in offensive efficiency and 12th in defensive efficiency under Splitter’s direction this past season.
Prior to his time with the Blazers, Splitter was a player development coach and assistant coach for the Nets from 2019-‘23 and an assistant for the Rockets in 2023-’24 before spending a year as head coach of Paris Basketball in 2024-’25.
Splitter succeeds former Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who chose to leave the organization in April after six seasons in Chicago.
Wolves assistant Micah Nori, Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. were the other finalists in Chicago’s search for a new head coach, according to reports.
Splitter had a 7-year playing career in the NBA, five seasons of which were spent with San Antonio. He was a member of the Spurs' championship-winning team in 2014.
