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Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Billy Donovan Reportedly Set to Join Spurs Coaching Staff
Donovan brings 11 seasons of NBA head coaching experience to Mitch Johnson’s staff after six seasons with the Bulls.
- On Thursday, Billy Donovan agreed to become lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs under head coach Mitch Johnson, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania and Pete Thamel.
- Donovan, a 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, spent 11 seasons as an NBA head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder after winning two national titles with Florida.
- Donovan fills the vacancy left by Sean Sweeney, who departed to become Orlando Magic head coach, and will help Johnson with playoff adjustments and late-game execution.
- San Antonio lost the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks in five games and hopes Donovan's decades of experience will help the team return to championship contention.
- This marks Donovan's first assistant role since the 1990s, and the prospect of winning his first NBA title motivates the veteran coach in his new position.
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Report: Billy Donovan joining Spurs as lead assistant coach
Former Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has agreed to become lead assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs, ESPN reported on Thursday.Donovan, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025, stepped down in April after six seasons with the Bulls and his 11th straight as an NBA head coach.Chicago was 31-51 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season, and the Bulls said they wanted Donovan to return, but he did not…
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources29
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
L 40%
C 53%
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