It’s not the first time that Billy Donovan’s basketball future had a shadow of doubt cast over it.
Even if in this case it was coming from gambling websites this preseason.
Betonline, as well as several other betting services, have placed the Bulls coach atop the list of “first coach to be fired” this NBA season, with odds currently sitting at +400.
A bad beat to chase, however, if these companies knew the Reinsdorfs.
Prior to the 133-124 double-overtime win over Denver at the United Center on Thursday, Donovan talked about his future, as well as the idea of being on the hotseat in his fourth season with the Bulls, and didn’t hide from any of it.
“I think for me just throughout my life, I mean this is even going back into high school – I obviously as a player was told to transfer, ‘I’m never going to play,’ ‘’ Donovan said. “I was told that at Providence College. Someone was sharing a funny story with me that when I was at Florida, there was a chapter in a book that said, “Firebomb Billy Donovan’s House.’’ I understand the expectations wherever you’re at, and for me I had five straight years at the University of Florida when we had played for a National Championship in 2000, and then five straight years of getting knocked out in the first and second round, and people weren’t happy. I wasn’t either.’’
Donovan admittedly hasn’t been happy with what’s transpired so far in Chicago, posting a 117-119 (.496) record in that time, and only one playoff appearance.
That’s not what executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas hired him to do.
Besides back-to-back championships as a Gator, when Donovan made the jump to the NBA with Oklahoma City in 2015, he posted five seasons of winning basketball (243-157 for a .608 winning percentage).
But before outsiders start getting any ideas about Donovan looking to rent rather than buy from here on out, there are some concrete facts to remember: Karnisovas and the Reinsdorfs – Michael and Jerry – think very highly of Donovan. Enough so that they extended his deal last season, and the Reinsdorfs have no intention of paying dead money on a coach the next three-plus seasons.
Does that make the coach the “Teflon Don?’’
Not even close.
“I totally get and understand it’s a result-oriented business,’’ Donovan said. “I totally get that what makes this place special is they obviously have a really passionate fan base. We also have an enormous amount of history in the past of incredible success. For me I take that very, very serious. I don’t think that however my relationship is with Arturas or (general manager) Marc (Eversley) or Jerry and Michael changes how I go about each and every day, trying to work and help our group the best I can.’’
That was on display against the defending champion Nuggets, with Donovan still looking for a starting point guard – although Coby White remained the leader in the clubhouse – as well as the coach continuing to tweak the offense to play faster and shoot more threes.
After launching 35 threes in the Sunday loss to Milwaukee, there was a slight downtick in the Denver win for the starting group specifically, as that first Bulls unit went 2-for-12 from long range. Not a concern so early in the process of changing the shot profile, but definitely something Donovan will have to keep stressing with that group.
One of the highlights to come out of the win?
Defensive-minded reserve Alex Caruso scoring 14 points, and doing so on a 4-for-6 shooting display from three-point range.