After the Chicago Bulls hired Tiago Splitter as their head coach, his split with the Portland Blazers came into question during his introductory press conference on Wednesday. Splitter, who took over head coach Chauncey Billups as head coach of the Blazers, declined to comment on the matter.
Splitter, keeping the Blazers his rearview mirror, wants to keep his focus solely on the Bulls, he said, per The Oregonian’s Ryan Clarke.
“That’s a good question, but I really want to leave that behind,” Splitter said. “I want to think about the Bulls. That’s my goal right now, and I want to keep that behind. I respect all opinions. I think there’s too many things being said already, and I think that’s enough. I’m past that, and I want to think about the Chicago Bulls.”
Tiago Splitter asked about what led to his departure from the Blazers.
“I really want to leave that behind.” #RipCity pic.twitter.com/dn8pmI62Mr
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) June 17, 2026
Upon speculation of the Blazers cutting ties with Splitter as purely a financial move has been widely documented in the wake of staff layoffs within the organization. Splitter, unwilling to add fuel to an ongoing conversation about the Blazers’ current finances, is only ahead to his first season as the Bulls’ head coach.
Manu Ginobli reacts to Bulls hiring Tiago Splitter
In light of the news, former Spurs teammate Manu Ginobli congratulated Tiago Splitter for landing the head coaching job for the Bulls. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Ginobli is very happy for his friend, and gave Splitter a shoutout on his X, formerly Twitter.
“So cool to see @tiagosplitter becoming head coach of the Bulls,” Ginobili said. “Very very very happy for you my friend!! Congrats and good luck!!”
Splitter and Ginobli played five seasons together for the Spurs from 2010 to 2015, winning a championship in 2014.
The post Bulls’ Tiago Splitter issues blunt response on what caused his Blazers split appeared first on ClutchPoints.
