In Defense of Chicago Bulls Executives Gar Forman and John Paxson

Bulls’ Impact on Player Development

Apr 11, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-107. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls are excellent in the draft because they pick players knowing they will put the work in to make themselves great. Ever since the Thomas debacle, every Bulls player has had four overlying characteristics: 1. Humble 2. Chip on their shoulder 3. Value team over themselves 4. Extremely hard working. When a player has those traits, they are going to improve massively every season regardless of whom they are surrounded by. Chicago takes players who put the pressure on themselves to become better every year.

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This is why I’m always confused as to why people give Thibodeau credit for the Bulls’ player development. The players make themselves put the work in—that’s why the Bulls drafted them. Did it ever make sense that a coach who has always been clueless offensively was the reason for Jimmy Butler’s improved scoring? Butler blossomed because of himself. The Bulls know the players they pick are going to succeed in the NBA or kill themselves trying. That’s the formula. That’s John Paxon and Gar Forman’s formula.

The Future Under Paxson and Forman

Jun 2, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; New Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg speaks during a press conference at Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Those two believe in the formula enough to turn the team over to an unproven head coach, the move scrutinized as always. They explained their fallout with Thibodeau in their press release and were buried for it. Fans always want the truth until they don’t like what they hear. With Paxson and Forman, they almost never like what they hear. Only with those two will people be mad at an organization that was candid in its motivation for firing an employee. Management wants the franchise to have better cohesion, and for some reason fans got mad about that. If there is anything that the Bulls could have said on the press release that people wouldn’t have gotten angry about, I’d love to hear it.

All John Paxson and Gar Forman do is make smart choice after smart choice, and get no recognition from anyone for it. You never hear them talk to the media because they don’t need it. They know what they need to do to make a successful franchise, because they have been doing it the past ten years for fans that are ungrateful for their efforts. They were the ones that drafted all the players that make the Bulls great. They were the ones who drafted star players while only missing the playoffs once over the past ten seasons. They were the ones who gave Thibodeau his first head-coaching chance of his career after over 25 years as an assistant, and the ones ridiculed for his firing.

They are also the ones who are giving Fred Hoiberg his first chance when most people don’t think he will work in the NBA. Do Bulls fans actually think he will be a poor NBA head coach, or just want him to fail because he is Forman and Paxson’s guy? Not a tough answer if you ask me.

When Hoiberg turns into a great hire and the Bulls improve next season, just remember what side you stood on in the Paxson-Forman-Thibodeau debate. I’ll take the side that has had a better track record than almost every other front office in the league over the past decade.

I’ll take, for some unknown reason, the unpopular side.

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