There is a new man at the helm for the Chicago Bulls. After an extensive search for a new coach to replace Billy Donovan, the Bulls have signed Tiago Splitter to a three-year deal.
Splitter is fresh off an impressive stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was thrown into the fire just one game into the season after Chauncey Billups was suspended by the NBA for his involvement in a gambling scandal.
Splitter, who had no prior experience as the main shot-caller in the NBA, embraced the challenge and steered the Trail Blazers to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Still, Portland did not want to give him a lucrative contract, forcing him to look elsewhere.
Splitter is the latest addition to the ever-growing tree of Gregg Popovich, who handled Splitter on the San Antonio Spurs from 2010 to 2015. Splitter only had good things to say about Popovich’s impact on him.
“He was, of course, a great coach, mentor, and still is. A guy who calls me, texts me, and helps me. I saw how he did when certain things (happened) and how he would deal with situations, so I learned from it,” said Splitter.
“The day-to-day things, how he treats players. He’s one of the best, if not the best, at how he makes everybody feel involved.”
The 41-year-old Splitter won a ring with the Spurs in 2014.
As with most players who played for Popovich, who now serves as the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, Splitter has imbibed the wisdom of the legendary mentor.
Clearly, it will help him in his new chapter, especially since he will have his hands full in trying to reclaim the long-lost glory of the Bulls.
After the dynastic run of Michael Jordan, the Bulls have been on one of the longest title droughts in the NBA. They have only been to the playoffs twice in the last 10 seasons.
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