The Chicago Bulls fired coach Jim Boylen on Friday, ending a two-year tenure filled with old-school motivational tactics, chafing from players and plenty of losses.
Boylen, 55, spent 19 years as an NBA assistant coach before replacing the fired Fred Hoiberg in 2018. His ascendance to Chicago’s top job was quickly met with skepticism from players, who pushed back against his hard practices and in-game coaching tactics. The picture never got much brighter, with Chicago going 39-84 (. 317) under Boylen, who was given a multiyear contract extension in May 2019, before his firing. Despite a roster loaded with recent lottery picks, the Bulls posted a 22-43 record before the March shutdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic and were one of eight teams left out of the Disney World bubble.
After years of clinging to a failed front office led by John Paxson and Gar Forman, the Bulls opened the hiatus by hiring Arturas Karnisovas, an up-and-coming executive from the Denver Nuggets, to be their new general manager. Karnisovas did not initially indicate whether he would pursue an immediate coaching change or evaluate Boylen for another year, a stance that frustrated some Bulls fans. Friday’s announcement came on the last day of the regular season.
Advertisement
“After doing a comprehensive evaluation and giving the process the time it deserved, I ultimately decided that a fresh approach and evolution in leadership was necessary,” Karnisovas said in a statement. “This was a very difficult decision, but it is time for our franchise to take that next step as we move in a new direction and era of Chicago Bulls basketball. Jim is a great human being that cares deeply about this organization and the game of basketball. I want to thank him for his professionalism and commitment to the franchise.”
Boylen’s tough talk in news conferences and blue-collar quirks, like installing a punch clock at the Bulls’ practice facility, made him an easy target for critics given Chicago’s poor play. The approach often seemed out of step with the modern NBA, as guard Zach LaVine expressed frustration on the court over Boylen’s tendency to call timeouts in games that were already decided. Young players like Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. have not developed as quickly as outsiders hoped, and Bulls rookie Daniel Gafford offered something less than a strong endorsement.
“I don’t like him a lot, but he’s okay,” Gafford said on a live stream in July. “Got some things he can work on, got some things he can get better at as a person and as a coach.”
Advertisement
Without strong support from his players, Boylen’s job status came down to whether Chicago’s ownership was willing to spend for a new coach. The Reinsdorf family will empower Karnisovas, a first-time GM, to pursue his own coach rather than keep Boylen as a holdover.
“No one could question Jim’s passion for our team and our organization,” COO Michael Reinsdorf, son of chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, said in a statement. “We sincerely appreciate his tireless efforts and contributions during his time with the Bulls, and we wish him and his family the very best.”
Given their inexperienced roster, the Bulls will probably be seeking a development-minded coach. Kenny Atkinson, who was fired by the Brooklyn Nets in March, could emerge as a candidate.
Sign up for our weekly NBA newsletter to get the best basketball coverage in your inbox
Read more on the NBA:
The NBA’s championship picture was clear entering the bubble. Now it’s complicated.
Russell Westbrook expected to miss opening of playoff showdown with Thunder
The NBA’s virtual fan experience allows fans to plug into the bubble
Damian Lillard’s 61 points saved Portland’s season — and evoked memories of a lost loved one
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZMCxu9GtqmhqYGd9cHyXaGhtZ5Kqua2%2FjJ%2Bgq51dmLyir8dmoaKlXZe8urjEp2SanqSav27A1qhkrJ2RqLyvv4ytpq6fmGLBorjKZqOoq6OawHA%3D