Tiago Splittter doesn’t want to think about his departure from the Blazers.
While speaking to the media in Chicago Wednesday, shortly after being named the next Bulls coach, Splitter gave a blunt and cryptic response when asked about why he left Portland.
“I really want to leave that behind,” Splitter said. “I’m going to think about the Bulls, that’s my goal right now, and I want to keep that behind (Blazers departure). I respect all opinions and 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.”
One narrative flowing around the league surrounding Splitter’s departure is that Blazers owner Tom Dundon wouldn’t have offered the coach sufficient money, and that Splitter wouldn’t put up with that.
Taking over for Chauncey Billups, who is facing federal charges from a gambling scandal, Splitter guided the Blazers to a 42-40 record and their first playoff appearance since 2021.
The Blazers lost to the eventual Western Conference champion Spurs in the First Round.
Splitter was the first Blazers coach to have a winning record in his first season with the team since 2001-02, and led the team to a top-10 defense across their final 51 games.
Despite his cryptic answer Wednesday, Splitter still thanked the Blazers for his tenure.
new head coach Tiago Splitter during a press conference at
Advocate Center on June 18, 2026. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
“Thank you to everyone in the organization for your daily dedication and support from day (one),” Splitter wrote on Instagram. “Thank you to the fans for all the love and encouragement. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this journey.”
Splitter succeeds Billy Donovan, who spent six years in Chicago before resigning in April. Donovan went 226-256 with the Bulls, and made the playoffs just once, in 2022.
The new Bulls coach inherits a team that went 31-51 this season, led by guard Josh Giddey, who averaged 17 points per game.
The Bulls also have the fourth pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, giving them the opportunity to hand Splitter a franchise player to work with immediately.
Splitter also brings championship pedigree to Chicago as a former player, as he won the 2014 Finals with the Spurs.
The 2007 first-round pick averaged 7.9 points per game across his seven-year career, and now looks to catapult a middling Bulls team back to contention.
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