With one of the more high-profile head coaching job openings in the NBA at the moment, the Chicago Bulls appear to have a pecking order early in the search.
The early odds lists were released within the past week or so for the Chicago Bulls in the wake of the relieving of now former head coach Jim Boylen this offseason. The Bulls parted ways with Boylen back on Aug. 14 after two rough seasons at the helm as head coach. But who is the next favorite to be the head coach of the Bulls heading into the 2020-21 season?
NBC Sports Chicago had their odds list released on Aug. 17 as to who is the favorite to be the Bulls next head coach to replace the departed Boylen. That odds list from NBC Sports Chicago from earlier in the week mentioned the Philadelphia 76ers lead assistant coach Ime Udoka as the odds on favorite to be the Bulls next head coach (5/2).
Behind Udoka was the Toronto Raptors assistant and former Bulls big man Adrian Griffin as the second favorite to be the next head coach (3/1 odds). To round out the top five of the coaching odds were the former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson (7/2), Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue (4/1), and then ESPN commentator/analyst Jeff Van Gundy (6/1).
Other significant names on that list include San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon, Denver Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr., and even Bulls Hall-of-Famers Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Although, hiring Pippen or Jordan is extremely unlikely.
Udoka is an intriguing option. He is in the midst of his first season as the lead assistant on the Sixers coaching staff. Udoka also served on staff under legendary head coach Gregg Popovich with the Spurs from 2012-2019.
Griffin and Atkinson would surely be solid coaching candidates too for the Bulls front office and ownership to consider. There’s a good amount of coaching candidates out there for the Bulls to legitimately explore in the thick of this offseason.
Boylen finished up his run as the Bulls head coach with a career record of 39-84. He pushed the Bulls to finish up the 2019-20 season with a record of 22-43 through 65 games, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.