Although Billy Donovan's NBA career is not yet finished, the Chicago Bulls' coach received the honor of a lifetime on Saturday when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Donovan became the third Bulls head coach to earn his place in the Hall, joining Phil Jackson (1989-98) and Jerry Sloan (1979-82) among the exclusive group.
"I am incredibly humbled and honored," Donovan said during his induction speech. "Standing up here, I'm a reflection of so many different people throughout the course of my life."
Following his collegiate career at Providence and a brief stint in the NBA, Donovan began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kentucky under Rick Pitino, his former coach with the Friars. Donovan was hired as the head coach at Marshall University at the age of 28 in 1994, making him the youngest head coach in the NCAA at the time.
"I am incredibly indebted to Coach Pitino," Donovan said. "I had the opportunity to play for Coach and I had the opportunity to work for him. He taught me how to work. He taught me what it was to compete. He taught me about what really went into winning. Where he found me, as a sophomore in college, is not where he left me. He took me to places that I never could've dreamed of, and it was his belief, faith and confidence in me that I will always be indebted to."
Donovan compiled a 35-20 record over two seasons with the Thundering Herd before taking the job at the University of Florida in 1996. He led the Gators to the NCAA Tournament 14 times, winning back-to-back National Championships in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Florida dominated UCLA in the 2006 title game, 73-57, then returned its entire starting five the next season. The Gators became the eighth team in college basketball history to repeat as champions after taking down Ohio State, 85-74, in 2007.
Donovan took time during his speech to thank five integral players from those Florida teams: Taurean Green, Corey Brewer, Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Lee Humphrey.
"I know I'm biased, but I really believe that team should be considered one of the great teams of all time," Donovan said. "They're the only team in the history of the NCAA Tournament to start a season unranked and win the National Championship, and then have to start the next season ranked No. 1 in the country and do it under both of those platforms. They taught me so much about winning and about what it was to be a team, and I'm so grateful for the experience with those guys and I just say thank you."
After a 19-year run in Gainesville, Donovan took his talents to the NBA. The Thunder brought in Donovan to lead the franchise in 2015, and under his sterwardship, Oklahoma City went to the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. Donovan became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 2020.
Entering his sixth season with the team, Donovan is looking to bring the Bulls back to the postseason for the first time since 2022. Donovan's 438-362 career record gives him the seventh-most wins among active NBA coaches.
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