Tiago Splitter isn’t easing into his first head coaching gig. The new Chicago Bulls boss walked into his final practice before Summer League and made it clear: his team plans to bully everyone in Las Vegas.
“We are going to be physical,” Splitter said. “And we are going to be the most physical team.”
That’s a pretty bold statement for a squad that hasn’t played a single real game together yet. But Splitter, who will handle the sideline duties for Chicago’s first two Summer League matchups, seems to know exactly what identity he wants to build from day one. Rebounding. Pace. Grinding possessions. He laid it out simple: “Play inside of what we like to do and play fast. Control the rebounds, we know it’s going to be a fight on the boards. Just going to be a part of the game, who can have more possessions.”
There’s actual roster intrigue here too. Rookies Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain will make their debuts for the Bulls on Friday. Both were high draft selections this year, and Splitter isn’t putting pressure on them to be stars right away. He wants them to enjoy the moment. “Those guys are high picks in the draft,” Splitter said. “We take care of them, and hopefully they can also enjoy the night, and the game is special.”
New Regime From the Top Down
This Bulls team looks completely different than it did a few months ago. The front office got a shakeup first, with Bryson Graham taking over as VP of Basketball Operations. Then Splitter was hired as head coach. Then the draft brought in Wilson and Swain. That’s a full reset button being pushed — new decision-makers, new voice in the locker room, new young talent all at once.
Splitter expressed real excitement about officially getting started. “Excited to represent the Bulls and hopefully we can start a great thing tomorrow,” he said.
The Summer League schedule kicks off Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7 pm CST. It’s just Summer League, sure. But for a franchise trying to figure out its direction, the tone Splitter sets in these early scrimmages matters. He’s already staking a claim. Physicality first. Everything else later.
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