Splitter Leads Bulls
Chicago Bulls Secure Tiago Splitter As Head Coach Following His Interim Playoff Run
Key Points
Reports say Splitter is expected to "sign a new contract" with the Bulls just months after stepping in as Portland’s interim head coach following Chauncey Billups’ arrest, underscoring how quickly the transition is moving.
ESPN reported the Bulls considered four finalists for the head-coach job—Splitter plus Minnesota assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta assistant Ryan Schmidt, and Chicago assistant Wes Unseld Jr.—before settling on Splitter.
Charania/ESPN reporting says Splitter’s immediate impact with Portland included a 42-40 season overall (42-39 under his leadership) and a return to the playoffs—their postseason run ended in the opening round against San Antonio.
Portland’s search for a replacement for Splitter is described as led by candidates Tyler Lashbrook (Boston Celtics assistant) and Micah Nori (Minnesota Timberwolves assistant).
The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to hire Tiago Splitter as their next head coach, according to ESPN. The 41-year-old Brazilian becomes the first person from his country to hold an NBA head coaching job. The move comes just weeks after Splitter guided the Portland Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and a playoff berth as their interim coach.
Splitter stepped in last October after Chauncey Billups was arrested in a federal gambling sting, per CBS Sports. He inherited a team in chaos and steadied it — Portland finished with their first winning record since 2021. Now Chicago is betting that same steady hand can rebuild a Bulls team that went just 31-51 last season.
How a Federal Arrest Launched Splitter's Coaching Career
On October 23, 2025, federal agents arrested Billups in a sting targeting a high-stakes poker ring that allegedly used hidden technology to cheat wealthy players, CBS Sports reported. The NBA placed Billups on immediate leave. Two days later, Splitter — hired just that summer as a Blazers assistant — was named interim head coach.
Splitter had almost no head coaching experience. He had coached one game at Paris Basketball in France. Yet Portland finished 42-39 under his watch, ranked top 10 defensively over the final 51 games per TSN, and reached the playoffs. Their run ended in the first round against San Antonio. It was enough to put Splitter on every contender's radar.
Bulls Chose Splitter Over Three Other Serious Finalists
Chicago interviewed four candidates in person from June 8 to 12, according to Hoops Rumors. The finalists were Splitter, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and Chicago's own assistant Wes Unseld Jr. ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed on June 15 that the Bulls were finalizing Splitter's contract.
The hire was driven by new Bulls EVP Bryson Graham, who took over in May after the previous front office was cleared out. TSN reported Graham wanted a development-focused coach who fit a total roster rebuild. Billy Donovan had stepped away in April after six seasons, once Graham was brought in from New Orleans.
Deni Avdija's Breakout Season Sets a Blueprint for Buzelis
The biggest selling point on Splitter's resume is what he did with Deni Avdija. The Portland forward averaged 24.2 points and 6.7 assists per game in 2025-26 — up from 14.7 points the season before — and earned his first All-Star nod, per AP News. That leap happened in one year under Splitter's system.
In Chicago, analysts expect Splitter to run the same playbook with Matas Buzelis. Chicago State of Mind wrote that Splitter brings a "fresh, international perspective" to a franchise "starving for culture." Skeptics at BlogABull urge caution, noting Splitter only coached one season and in a "weird and chaotic situation."
Bulls Hold No. 4 Pick, Portland Scrambles to Replace Splitter
Chicago owns the No. 4 and No. 15 picks in the June 23 draft. Bleacher Nation reports the Bulls are eyeing UNC forward Caleb Wilson, seen as a two-way fit for Splitter's system. Some insiders name Darryn Peterson as a possibility at No. 4, though ESPN analyst Cory Alexander suggests Chicago will make a "big swing" for a player who fits Splitter's defensive, fluid style.
Meanwhile, Portland faces its own mess. Owner Tom Dundon was reportedly weighing just $1.5 million per year for a head coach — well below market rate — per Basketnews. The Blazers' search has narrowed to Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook and Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, the same Nori who finished second in Chicago's search. NBC Sports noted Dundon's frugality may make it hard to land either candidate.
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