Chicago Bulls Coach Draws Ringing Endorsement From Matas Buzelis After Another Failed Playoff Pursuit 1 Mar 27, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) shoots against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Chicago Bulls Coach Draws Ringing Endorsement From Matas Buzelis After Another Failed Playoff Pursuit

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 6:29 AM ET

The Chicago Bulls are officially eliminated from postseason and play-in contention, following their 131-113 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, which might spell doom for Billy Donovan’s head coaching tenure.

According to Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls should give Donovan another chance because he owes him his growth as an NBA player.

“He’s been everything, man,” Buzelis told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “He’s been a role model to me; he’s someone I look up to as a person, as a human being. He’s a guy that’s been a cornerstone for me. He’s pushed me to my limits, and he’s going to keep pushing me until I can’t be pushed anymore.”

“This might sound crazy, but it’s the truth: He’s teaching me how to be a winning player, and I know everyone will say, ‘Well, you’re not winning a lot of games,’ but he’s taught me the characteristics it takes to win, and that’s all you can ask for,” he continued of Donovan. “Even when he’s sat me down after a few minutes [into a game], that’s just about telling me what I have to do, what I need to do to be better at it, and a guy like me, I know my time will come.”

Chicago Bulls News: Billy Donovan has positive reaction to latest loss vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Billy Donovan lauded the Chicago Bulls for putting up a valiant stand against the Oklahoma City Thunder, going toe-to-toe with the defending champions in the first half before running out of gas late in the second half.

“It comes down to how professional you are and how important these games are,” Donovan said. “How do you internally look at that? I do think a lot of that speaks to character, quite honestly. We have a bunch of good guys in that locker room, and I would bet on them that they would go out there and put their best foot forward, try and do the best they can. The competitive character reveals itself.”

The Chicago Bulls had five players in double-digit points. Collin Sexton finished as their leading scorer with 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and five three-pointers on 8-for-14 shooting from the field in 30 minutes off the bench.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: