The Chicago Bulls have sacked executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley.
Karnisovas and Eversley were hired to run the Bulls front office at the start of the 2020-21 season. Across six seasons, they went 224-254.
The team announced the dismissals on Monday.
A Disappointing Tenure
Chicago only achieved one winning season under Karnisovas’ leadership, in 2021-22. That was also the only year the team made the playoffs, suffering a five-game first round exit to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2022.
Chicago are currently 29-49 and No. 12th in the Eastern Conference.
- The team is missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Early Promise Fades Away
The Bulls began the season 5-0 and won six of their first seven games for the first time since the Michael Jordan era. However, the team began to plummet in the standings due to injury issues.
They have endured four separate losing streaks of at least five games this season.
Failed Roster Overhaul
At the trade deadline, Chicago traded away seven players, including Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu. Karnisovas said the moves were an effort to “get out of the middle.”
The deadline moves did not dramatically improve their lottery odds or gain any pieces the team sees as part of its future.
Jaden Ivey, one of the players the Bulls acquired, was dismissed last week after several social media rants ranging on topics including religion, anti-gay sentiments and depression.
Reinsdorf’s Statement
Chicago Bulls owner Michael Reinsdorf said the decisions were never easy. He added that they involve people the organisation respects both personally and professionally.
Reinsdorf said the team is grateful for their dedication and the work they’ve put in over the past six years. He also acknowledged the lack of success the fans deserve, stating it’s his responsibility to go in a new direction.
“This move is about positioning our team for sustained success moving ahead. I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand your frustration. I feel it as well. I know this will take time, and I am fully committed to getting this right. At the Chicago Bulls, our focus remains on building a team that can compete at the highest level and ultimately contend for championships. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to move the Bulls forward in a way that makes our fans proud.”