The Chicago Bulls didn’t just hire a new head coach this week — they pried Tiago Splitter away from the Portland Trail Blazers at a moment when his stock had never been higher. And on Tuesday, the team’s front office made it clear why they went all in.
In a statement released to the media, Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham laid out the rationale behind the move. “Throughout our process, Tiago stood apart for his basketball intellect, his ability to connect with and develop players, and the way his teams compete every single night,” Graham said, per Elias Schuster of Sports Illustrated.
The hiring was officially announced Monday, but the statement came a day later — a deliberate effort, according to sources familiar with the process, to let the news breathe before adding context.
Why Splitter Was the Target
Splitter enters Chicago with a résumé that goes far beyond his seven-year NBA playing career. After retiring as a player in 2017, he spent time as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets before taking over Paris Basketball, where he won both the LNB Elite title and the French Cup in 2025.
But it was his performance last season in Portland that turned heads. After Chauncey Billups was fired amid an FBI gambling investigation, Splitter took over as interim head coach and led the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and a playoff berth. That performance made him a serious candidate for NBA Coach of the Year — and caught the attention of Bulls brass.
“He’s won at every level as both a player and a coach,” Graham added in the statement. The Bulls have not confirmed whether Splitter was specifically targeted months ago, but the organization’s aggressive pursuit suggests they saw an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
Splitter’s Response
Splitter, for his part, expressed gratitude and optimism. In the same statement, he thanked Jerry Reinsdorf, Michael Reinsdorf, and Graham, adding: “The Bulls represent everything I love about this game, carrying a proud tradition, a passionate city, and a young, hungry group of players ready to grow.”
The 41-year-old former Spur — who won an NBA championship with San Antonio in 2014 — now inherits a Chicago roster that features a mix of young talent and veteran presence. The team has not publicly outlined specific expectations for next season, but the hire signals a clear push toward contention, according to league insiders.
Fans online noted the poetic timing: Splitter will face his former Blazers team twice next season in matchups that now carry immediate subtext.
The Bigger Picture
Portland, meanwhile, is back in the market for a head coach. The Blazers have not commented on whether an interim replacement will be named soon, though speculation has centered on several assistant coaches around the league, according to reports.
For Chicago, the hire is a bet on Splitter’s ability to replicate the quick turnaround he engineered in Portland — and a clear statement that the Bulls believe their current roster can win now, not just develop.
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