Splitter officially unveiled by the Bulls! Calls Popovich a life mentor, praises Buzelis as an all-around talent

On June 18, Beijing time, the Chicago Bulls hosted a press conference to officially present their new head coach, Splitter. Having previously led the Trail Blazers last season, Splitter secured the Bulls' offer and took over as the head coach of this Eastern Conference squad. At the press conference, he discussed his mentor Popovich, his vision for the Bulls, and commended the rookie Buzelis.

Splitter said, "It is a great honor to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. I firmly believe this team has a bright future... We need to build a high-standard team culture, develop good habits day by day, and keep improving and growing. This path will require tremendous effort."

"The first step in coaching is always to build connections with the players, and I have already started doing that. At the NBA level, trust is the foundation of everything. Without that bond, it's hard to make demands of players or earn their genuine respect. We need to communicate with players in various ways—each generation thinks differently, and coaches must adapt. But narrowing the distance between us is always the top priority. Team cohesion is the core pillar of basketball coaching, and everything starts there."

The Bulls' young star Buzelis received praise from Splitter. "He is a well-rounded player with no weaknesses. We need to fully develop every aspect of his game, continuously finding room for improvement in daily practice and every game. In my view, he has complete skills on both ends of the floor and is a very balanced player."

Reflecting on his tenure with the Trail Blazers last season, Splitter said, "Back then, we had to take it step by step. Early in the season, we had to focus purely on the game and block out all external noise—that was the hardest part. We needed to convince the entire team that the only priority that season was basketball, nothing else. It required effort not just from me but also from the players, who cooperated fully. They were outstanding, and I am grateful they followed me and faced the challenges head-on. It wasn't an easy coaching environment, but as the season progressed, we managed to drown out most of the distractions, which was the most valuable thing. When there were only eight games left in the regular season, we saw a chance to make the play-in tournament. The whole team was unified: give everything to make the playoffs, with a clear plan at every step. For me, the most important thing was to eliminate off-court interference, focus solely on basketball, and ultimately finish the season with a clear goal."

Additionally, Splitter also spoke about his mentor Popovich. "He is without a doubt a great coach and a life mentor, and still is to this day. He often calls or texts me, offering guidance. I have witnessed firsthand how he handles all kinds of unexpected situations, and I have learned a great deal from that. His daily approach to managing the team and treating people is unparalleled—when it comes to making everyone in the organization feel a sense of belonging, even if he's not the best ever, he's definitely among the top tier."

Bulls general manager Bryson Graham also attended the press conference. Speaking about Splitter, Graham said, "He is very intelligent. In an era where basketball tactics are constantly evolving, he remains a coach who keeps a curious and exploratory mindset... He has a clear, long-term vision for building the team, and for a team like ours that is in the early stages of a rebuild, that foresight is crucial."