{"id":72559,"date":"2024-04-10T12:49:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T16:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=72559"},"modified":"2025-10-30T23:11:39","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T03:11:39","slug":"ncaa-kentucky-head-coach-candidate-bulls-billy-donovann-shoots-down-rumors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/10\/ncaa-kentucky-head-coach-candidate-bulls-billy-donovann-shoots-down-rumors\/","title":{"rendered":"Big-Time Head Coach Candidate Shoots Down Kentucky Rumors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite being connected to<\/a> the Kentucky men’s basketball head coach vacancy, Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan denies that he’s been contacted<\/a> by the powerhouse program.<\/p>\n

Addressing the rumors, Donovan says, \u201cI have not been contacted by anybody; I have not spoken to anybody\u201d (per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times).<\/p>\n

Billy Donovan Shoots Down Kentucky Rumors<\/h2>\n

\u201cMy whole total focus and commitment is here to this team and this group,\u201d Donovan continues. \u201cI think with what we\u2019ve been through this year and the way we started… I give our guys a lot of credit for hanging in there and battling through some of the things they\u2019ve had to battle through, and I\u2019m with them on that. I\u2019m committed to them on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since entering the NBA ranks, Donovan has been a potential candidate for multiple collegiate head coach vacancies. However, he’s consistently shut down the idea of returning to the NCAA. Asked what he would say to Kentucky if contacted, Donovan says:<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018I would still say the same thing I said: I\u2019m committed to being here with this group and helping these guys close out this year the best we can and try to get the home court in the play-in and try to advance.\u2019\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Several high-powered college coaches have decried the side effects of NIL deals. Nonetheless, Donovan isn’t mystified by college athletes getting paid. His desire to remain in the NBA isn’t tied to divisive topics like NIL deals or the transfer portal. At least not primarily.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2018\u2018[But] at a time where [players] are getting paid \u2014 and I\u2019ve always been a big advocate of that and think that should have happened a long time ago \u2014 when these guys are fortunate to come up to this level, they don\u2019t pick and choose which team they go to. They\u2019ve got to go and earn a contract and fulfill that.\u2019\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nonetheless, his comments were a bit of a head-scratcher. To Donovan, there isn’t a parallel between college athletes earning contracts and the NBA. To his point, college prospects and lesser talented players often have no say in where they’re playing. Yet, free agents \u2014particularly marquee free agents\u2014 may have their pick of the litter.<\/p>\n

‘Hail Mary Hire’<\/h3>\n

According to ESPN\u2019s Pete Thamel, Donovan is the \u201cone name that looms over all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Here our \u2066@SportsCenter<\/a>\u2069 hit from earlier with \u2066@HannahStormESPN<\/a>\u2069 on John Calipari\u2019s upcoming move to Arkansas and who the Wildcats will hire to replace him. pic.twitter.com\/UGtG4gN2SR<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n