An unexpected reunion between the Chicago Bulls and former head coach Tom Thibodeau became a possibility after a new rumor on Tuesday.
After a fourth consecutive losing season, the Bulls decided to end the Billy Donovan era after six seasons as head coach. In their first year (2021–22), they gave Chicago fans hope as they went 46–36 and emerged as a force in the East. It seemed like they finally had a coach who could consistently make a playoff run like Thibodeau once did.
Nevertheless, he never regained that success and finished with a 226–256 record. Since Thibodeau left 11 years ago, the Bulls have had three different coaches and have reached the playoffs only twice in that time. Thibodeau oversaw the roster for five years and made the playoffs every season. Including an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in their debut (2010–11).
That's why it shouldn't be surprising that there's been speculation around the game about an unlikely reunion (including on SportsNote). Yet that kind of thing doesn't happen in the NBA. But that could change this summer.
Tom Thibodeau ready for Chicago Bulls reunion
According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, the 68-year-old coach, who was unfairly fired by the New York Knicks a year ago, wants to return to the NBA and is open to the idea of a return to the Bulls bench. That is, "if Reinsdorf and the new executive vice president of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, who was hired away from the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, were interested," Amick writes.
It would be shocking if the Bulls decided to bring Thibodeau back. They moved on from him after the 2014–15 season with the belief that he could not lead them to the NBA Finals. Even in the years that followed he has been unable to achieve that goal. However, he has proven that he can get the franchise on the path to becoming a consistent playoff contender. He did it in Chicago and New York.
The Bulls are in a mess at the moment and need to rebuild from the ground up. Of the coaches available, Thibodeau has the track record of getting what the organization needs, while fully understanding the market pressures. Although unlikely, a reunion is much more possible than it was a few weeks ago.
