Giddey gets NBA champ as Bulls name Splitter

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Australian NBA stars Josh Giddey and Lachlan Olbrich have a new head coach at the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls appointed Tiago Splitter as their new head coach on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, ending a search to lead the almost constantly rebuilding franchise.

A new era begins at the United Center

Splitter, 41, becomes just the 25th head coach in Chicago Bulls history.

"Throughout our process, Tiago stood apart for his basketball intellect, his ability to connect with and develop players, and the way his teams compete every single night," Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham said. "

“He has won at every level of the game as both a player and a coach, on multiple continents, and we believe his vision is the right fit for our young roster."

Terms of the contract were not disclosed, in line with team policy.

From Portland interim role to Chicago's lead chair

Splitter arrives in the Windy City fresh off a stellar stint as interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2025-26 season. Elevated early in the campaign after Chauncey Billups was arrested, he steered Portland to a 42-40 record, a play-in tournament victory and the No. 7 seed in a brutally competitive Western Conference.

Splitter’s Trail Blazers ranked inside the league's top ten in several key categories:

• Second in offensive rebounds per game (14.1)
• Sixth in total rebounds per game (46.0)
• Seventh in triples made per game (14.5)
• Fifth in blocks per game (5.5)
• Sixth-stingiest defence against threes (12.5 allowed per game)

What it means for Josh Giddey

For Australian basketball fans, Splitter's appointment carries significant intrigue.

Giddey now has a new head coach known for empowering ball-handlers and pushing the pace. Splitter's offensive blueprint in Portland leaned heavily on three-point volume and second-chance opportunities – both areas where Giddey's playmaking and rebounding can continue to flourish.

Josh Giddey's Season Snapshot

Games: 53 │ Minutes: 1,707 (32.2 mpg)
Points: 913 (17.2 ppg) │ Rebounds: 443 (8.4 rpg) │ Assists: 489 (9.2 apg)
FG: 318–705 (45.1%) │ 3PT: 103–279 (36.9%) │ FT: 174–226 (77.0%)

Giddey’s ability to control games across all statistical categories defined his season. He climbed to 30 career triple-doubles, surpassing Michael Jordan’s total of 28 during the season, and placing himself among the NBA’s most productive all-around guards.

A coaching résumé built across continents

Splitter's path to Chicago has been anything but conventional. The Brazilian spent the 2024-25 season as head coach of Paris Basketball, capturing the French League and Basketball Cup titles while becoming the first Brazilian-born head coach in EuroLeague history.

His coaching journey began immediately after his playing retirement in 2018, when he joined the Brooklyn Nets as a pro scout before serving as an assistant coach from 2019 to 2023. He then spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant with the Houston Rockets. Internationally, he guided Brazil's under-23 men's national team to a gold medal in 2022.

A champion's pedigree

As a 6-foot-11 centre, Splitter enjoyed a seven-year NBA playing career, most notably winning the 2014 NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs alongside Gregg Popovich – becoming the first Brazilian-born player to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Drafted 28th overall in 2007, he averaged 7.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists across 355 NBA games with the Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Before arriving stateside, Splitter was a dominant force in Europe with Spanish powerhouse Baskonia, earning 2009-10 Liga ACB Most Valuable Player honours and three All-EuroLeague selections.

"The Bulls represent everything I love about this game, carrying a proud tradition, a passionate city and a young, hungry group of players ready to grow," Splitter said.

"I'm grateful for the trust this organisation has placed in me, and I can't wait to get to work in Chicago."