Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). Johnson adds (via Twitter) that assistant Chris Fleming will serve as Chicago’s acting head coach in Donovan’s absence.
Things appeared to be trending in the right direction for the Bulls, who at one point had 10 players in the COVID-19 protocols. The team’s last five affected players exited the protocols on Thursday, prompting Donovan to joke about having too many players at practice, rather than not enough. Now, Donovan himself has apparently returned either a positive or inconclusive COVID-19 test.
Assuming Donovan tested positive and that result is confirmed, he’ll likely be away from the club for at least 10 days.
He’s the fourth NBA head coach this month to enter the health and safety protocols. Rick Carlisle has since been cleared and rejoined the Pacers, while Lakers coach Frank Vogel and Kings coach Alvin Gentry remain sidelined.
Lol good lord, just as the Bulls were starting to get everyone back healthy, they lose their coach..smh
On a side note, if Fleming actually gets to run the team how he best sees fit, this could be an interesting set of games. I’ve always thought Fleming could make for a solid head coach one day, and he’ll likely get an opportunity sometime in the not so distant future.
However, I’m pretty sure that Donovan will basically go ahead and set out orders for Flemming, and he’ll have him do things his way. Even still, it won’t be like Donovan can call in plays during timeouts or call timeouts, etc. So, while we will likely see the same rotations and the same gameplan, it’ll still be interesting to see Flemming draw up some plays and manage the team in general.
10 players in protocols. Had to do a double take. Worse than Knicks. I guess the best thing about this. Is everyone is vaccinated. So should all be ok afterwards. So tired of this …… got my booster wks ago.
I don’t think the Bulls have any players left in the protocols anymore. Don’t know where you get 10.
Bulls are now COVID proof?
Emphasis on the question mark. 8;)