Bulls' Karnisovas Facing Pressure Amid Losing Season

Chicago's front office faces key decisions on coach Donovan's future.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:20am

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Arturas Karnisovas, the Chicago Bulls' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, is reportedly on the hot seat after the team's sixth straight losing season under his leadership. The Bulls are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-49 record, and have only made the playoffs once since Karnisovas took over in 2020. Meanwhile, the team is still looking to retain head coach Billy Donovan, who has emerged as a top candidate for college coaching jobs.

Why it matters

Karnisovas' future with the Bulls is in question as the team continues to struggle, raising concerns about the direction of the franchise. The upcoming meetings will be crucial in determining the team's path forward, including whether Donovan will remain the head coach.

The details

The Bulls are set to hold important meetings soon to discuss the team's direction, and Karnisovas' future will be a key topic. In his six seasons as the team's top executive, the Bulls have only made the playoffs once. This season, the team is 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-49 record, well out of playoff contention.

  • Karnisovas has been the Bulls' Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for six seasons.
  • The Bulls are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 29-49 record.

The players

Arturas Karnisovas

The Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Chicago Bulls, who is facing pressure after the team's sixth straight losing season under his leadership.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who is being targeted for college coaching jobs but the team is still looking to retain his services.

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What they’re saying

“Arturas Karnisovas is now on the hot seat in the wake of yet another brutal losing season for the Chicago Bulls, according to seasoned league insider Marc Stein.”

— Marc Stein, Seasoned league insider

What’s next

The Bulls are set to hold important meetings soon to discuss the team's direction, and Karnisovas' future will be a key topic. The team is also looking to retain head coach Billy Donovan, who has emerged as a top candidate for college coaching jobs.

The takeaway

Karnisovas' future with the Bulls is in jeopardy as the team continues to struggle, raising questions about the long-term direction of the franchise. The upcoming meetings will be crucial in determining whether Karnisovas and Donovan remain with the team, and how the Bulls will approach the offseason and beyond.