The Chicago Bulls just grabbed one of the most intriguing coaching prospects on the market — and they did it by poaching him from a Blazers franchise that didn’t want to let him go.
Tiago Splitter, the 41-year-old former Spurs center who helped Portland claw out of an early-season disaster, was officially hired as Bulls head coach on Tuesday, according to a team statement obtained by Sports Illustrated’s Elias Schuster.
“We are excited to welcome Tiago to the Chicago Bulls,” said Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham in the release. “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.”
Here’s the part that makes this hire sting for Portland: Splitter didn’t just leave. He left after saving the Blazers’ season.
From Chaos to Contender in Portland
Last fall, the Blazers were in freefall. Their head coach, Chauncey Billups, was indicted by the FBI as part of a widening probe into illegal gambling involving NBA personnel. Portland needed a steady hand. Splitter walked into a locker room that was confused, young, and distracted.
His fix came down to one concept: 0.5 basketball.
The philosophy demands that a player make a decision within half a second of touching the ball — shoot, pass, or drive. No hesitation. No wasted motion. The Blazers bought in. Over their final 51 games, Portland went 31-20. Their defense cracked the top 10 in the league. Forward Deni Avdija blossomed into an All-Star under Splitter’s guidance.
Portland finished 42-40 and secured the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Splitter is now a legitimate candidate for NBA Coach of the Year.
What Splitter Brings to Chicago
The Bulls have been stuck in neutral for years — a roster that never quite jelled, an identity that never quite stuck. Splitter’s track record suggests he can build something from scratch.
He emphasizes player development, defensive accountability, and rebounding — areas where Chicago has lagged. The Blazers finished second in the league in second-chance points last season, a direct result of Splitter’s emphasis on crashing the glass.
For Bulls fans, the names worth watching are Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey. Both players thrive in transition. Both need a coach who will let them push the pace and attack the rim. Splitter’s system does exactly that.
There’s also the matter of the upcoming draft. Chicago holds the No. 4 pick, and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson is reportedly near the top of their board. Wilson is a relentless rebounder and transition threat — a natural fit for the style Splitter just installed in Portland.
International Pedigree
Splitter spent a decade playing overseas before joining the NBA in 2010. He won an NBA title with the Spurs in 2014. As a coach, he worked with the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, and Paris Basketball, leading the French club to an LNB Élite title and French Cup in 2025.
That blend of international and NBA experience gave him a unique lens. He’s coached on multiple continents and won at every level. The Bulls are betting that his vision — fast, smart, unselfish — is exactly what their young roster needs.
“He has won at every level of the game as both a player and a coach, on multiple continents,” Graham said. “We believe his vision is the right fit.”
Whether Splitter can replicate his Portland magic in Chicago is the question nobody can answer yet. But the Bulls just made the kind of hire that signals they’re finally serious about building something new.
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