Billy Donovan heading towards extension with Bulls despite Knicks’ interest

The Chicago Bulls have started discussions to extend their coach Billy Donovan’s contract, according to information reported by Marc Stein. This move comes as the New York Knicks had expressed interest in the 59-year-old coach.

The Knicks’ request to speak to Billy Donovan was denied and that appears to have helped spark a new Bulls deal.

Donovan’s previous extension, said to have one year remaining, was secured entering 2022-23 but not immediately announced until late November of that season. https://t.co/U9vT1C0M6M

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 15, 2025

Chicago refuses to let their coach go

Under contract until 2026, Billy Donovan is in a favorable position to negotiate. The Bulls have refused the Knicks’ request to interview their coach, showing their desire to keep him. According to SNY.tv, the former Thunder coach could even leverage this New York interest to secure a salary increase.

Arriving in Chicago in 2020, Donovan initially signed a $24 million contract over four years. The Bulls then extended him in 2022, though the financial terms were not publicly disclosed.

Mixed record but promising new direction

At the Bulls’ helm, Billy Donovan has a record of 195 wins to 205 losses, a 49% win rate. Chicago has only made the playoffs once under his leadership, in 2022. Despite these middling statistics, the franchise seems convinced by the direction their coach is taking.

Over the past year, management has made a 180-degree turn with the departures of DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Zach LaVine. The younger roster now favors a spectacular, almost collegiate style of basketball, focused on speed and risk-taking. This approach nearly paid off this season, with Chicago finishing 9th in the regular season before falling to the Heat in the play-in.

The negotiations between Donovan and the Bulls demonstrate the mutual trust between both parties, despite outside interest. This potential extension aligns with the reconstruction project undertaken by the Illinois franchise.