Billy Donovan rips players for not loving each other enough
Frustration begins to spread in Chicago. After losing their seventh straight game and falling to 9-14 on the season, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan delivered one of his most prominent messages of the year, and it wasn’t about X’s and O’s.
Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Donovan said the Bulls’ problems don’t extend beyond injuries, compositions or schemes.
“I don’t care about injuries, it’s part of the NBA,” Donovan said bluntly. “What are we doing? What can we control? The break is, when they care enough about each other in that locker room, then it’s going to be over.”
Billy Donovan: “I don’t care (about injuries), it’s part of the NBA. … what do we do? What can we control? The break is, when they care enough about each other in that locker room, that’s when it’s going to be over.”
He previously said: “I think the group is getting along very well.… pic.tvitter.com/rKTKc3Lsvb
— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) December 8, 2025
The Bulls have dealt with missing key starters all season, but Donovan has made it clear that effort, not availability, is the biggest issue.
He doubled down with a message about the mentality he believes is missing from the roster.
“I think the group gets along really well. Everyone loves each other,” Donovan continued. “But until they **love each other enough to block each other, dive to the floor, not do it for themselves, but for the guy next to them … this is going to continue.”
Chicago’s season quickly unraveled after a promising start.
The offense still struggles with consistency, late-game decision-making has been problematic and the defense, once a strength under Donovan, has slipped dramatically during the losing skid.
Donovan emphasized attention to detail and accountability as areas that need urgent improvement.
“It’s the details,” he said. “We’re not good enough or talented enough not to do that. So we have to stay focused.”
The comments come at a crucial time, as internal pressure mounts and outside speculation mounts over potential roster changes before the trade deadline.
Whether Donovan’s message will create urgency or fuel frustration remains to be seen.
For now, the Bulls aren’t just looking for wins; they seek identity, connection and belief.
Their next chance to end the streak is coming later this week. Whether love, or at least a collective urgency, finally emerges may determine how quickly this season spirals or stabilizes.
2025-12-08 12:24:00
