Bulls Honor Billy Donovan's Late Father Before Raptors Game

The Chicago Bulls paid tribute to the passing of head coach Billy Donovan's father, Billy Donovan Sr., prior to their matchup against the Toronto Raptors.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Chicago Bulls honored the passing of head coach Billy Donovan's father, Billy Donovan Sr., before their game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. Donovan Sr. was a standout player at Boston College and later served as a first lieutenant in the Army. Billy Donovan Jr. went on to have a successful coaching career, leading the Florida Gators to two NCAA championships and currently serving as the head coach of the Bulls.

Why it matters

The tribute to Donovan Sr. shows the Bulls' support for their head coach during a difficult time. Donovan has been the Bulls' head coach since the 2020-21 season and led the team to the playoffs in 2022, despite their current six-game losing streak.

The details

Before the game, the Bulls issued a tribute to Donovan Sr., who was a standout player at Boston College, finishing with 1,102 career points, the No. 3 top scorer in program history. Donovan Sr. later served as a first lieutenant in the Army. Billy Donovan Jr. followed in his father's footsteps, playing basketball at Providence College and later becoming a successful head coach, leading the Florida Gators to two NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. Donovan has been the Bulls' head coach since the 2020-21 season and has a career NBA coaching record of 438-362.

  • The Bulls honored Donovan Sr.'s passing before their game against the Raptors on February 20, 2026.

The players

Billy Donovan Sr.

A standout player at Boston College, where he finished with 1,102 career points, the No. 3 top scorer in program history. He later served as a first lieutenant in the Army.

Billy Donovan

The current head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who has been with the team since the 2020-21 season. He previously served as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020 and led the Florida Gators to two NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.

Rick Pitino

A colleague of Billy Donovan who sent out well-wishes following the passing of Donovan Sr.

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What’s next

Wes Unseld Jr. has taken over as the interim head coach of the Bulls while Donovan tends to his family.

The takeaway

The Bulls' tribute to Billy Donovan Sr. demonstrates the team's support for their head coach during a difficult time and highlights the importance of family in the world of professional sports.