Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, who won back-to-back NCAA titles with Florida during his college coaching career, was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. Starting guard Coby White attended the ceremony and spoke to Chicago Sports Network about Donovan’s “amazing accomplishment” and what he likes about having him as a coach (Twitter video link).
“He’s honest,” White said of Donovan. “He pushes you, he’s going to get the most out of you. And for the most part, he’s always been upfront with me.
“But he also believes in his players. He gets his players to compete every night. He builds a relationship with his players, which often times you don’t see (with NBA head coaches).”
Donovan signed a multiyear extension with the Bulls in late July, while White is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him about $12.9MM in 2025/26.
Here are a few more notes from around the East:
- Wizards lottery pick Tre Johnson III was viewed as one of the best shooters entering the 2025 draft but he also displayed improved ball-handling a couple months ago at Las Vegas Summer League, writes Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network. “I watch bits and pieces of Kyrie (Irving) and Darius Garland, just from a guard’s perspective how they can change speeds,” Johnson said. Second-year big man Alex Sarr believes Johnson is more than capable of creating shots for both himself and others. “I like his play-making in general. I already knew that about him, but it’s just good to see. I feel like we’re just seeing the surface of what he’s capable of,” Sarr said.
- John Wall announced his retirement as a player last month and will cover the NBA for Amazon Prime Video in 2025/26. In an interview with Michael Lee of The Washington Post, Wall said he hopes to have his No. 2 jersey retired by the Wizards. Varun Shankar of The Washington Post considers whether the Wizards should retire Wall’s jersey, noting that the former No. 1 overall pick made five All-Star appearances with the franchise and is the team’s all-time leader in both assists and steals. While it’s been a long time since the organization has retired a player’s jersey, Shankar believes Wall could be a “logical” choice to be honored, as he was the driving force behind Washington’s “best stretch since (Wes) Unseld retired.”
- Assistant coach God Shammgod, who joined Orlando this offseason after nine years in Dallas, believes the Magic have a talented roster capable of taking a step forward this season, he tells Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. “Paolo (Banchero) and Franz (Wagner) and them, they’re coming into their own right now,” Shammgod said. “They’re at the right age where they still young, but they young enough to dare. Dare to be great. And I believe like Paolo and Franz is going to be great, but Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, we got Tyus Jones. Now we got so many great players. … And I feel like right now they all are ready to make their mark. So I’m just happy and honored to be a part of it.”
I love my Wizards, so they better retire Wall’s jersery. Did he stick around long enough and healthy enough (most important point)? No, but even nowadays, no one moves like that man on the court. The absolute speed and illusiveness that he maneuvered on the court I dont think can be replicated. Not to mention the steals and assists. John Wall was/is a franchise legend. Could he have been more than that health permitting? Absolutely. But from what I watched as a Wiz fan, dude gave everything he had and he was damn good.
I think Wall is a hall of famer but I hate seeing jerseys retired unless its an all-timer who bought you a ring.
Its tough to say to be honest. Dwight Howard just got in but he also played nearly twice as many games as Wall despite coming into the league 6 or so years prior to Wall. I think at least as far as the Wizards are concerned, its worth considering retiring that number as realistically, you really going to happen upon another guy like John Wall? Personally, I sincerely doubt it. Had he remained healthy throughout his career, no doubt the man would be a surefire Hall of Famer. He was just that damn skilled. And you can go back across other professional leagues and see guys much like Wall, who were supremely talented beyond scrutiny, that had careers cut in half or worse by injuries.
For my part, I’ll remember this man as being one of the best Wizard players ever. Even if the league or the Washington organization doesn’t recognize him as such with some sort of notoriety.
I know it’s not a popular take, but I actually don’t mind Donovan. Don’t think he’s some world beater but I also don’t think he’s horrible. Just average, like the rest of the bulls.
With the exception of AKME, who are the GM equivalent of dog sht, human sht, and horse sht all mixed up in a blender.
And with Reinsforf being the head of the sht snake here of course. But that’s not a hot take
( maybe I’m also okay w billy given the trauma from his 2 immediate predecessors 😭 )