Bulls’ Billy Donovan becomes fourth head coach to enter health and safety protocols

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has entered the league’s health and safety protocols, the team announced on Friday. Assistant coach Chris Fleming will take over the head coaching responsibilities until Donovan is able to return. 

Donovan is the fourth NBA head coach to enter the health and safety protocols, joining Frank Vogel of the Los Angeles Lakers, Alvin Gentry of the Sacramento Kings and Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers. Numerous assistant coaches and staffers around the league have also been affected.

The Bulls, perhaps more so than any other team, have been decimated by the recent COVID-19 surge that is sweeping across the league. At one point earlier this month, they had 10 players in the health and safety protocols, which forced two of their games — Dec. 14 vs. the Detroit Pistons and Dec. 16 vs. the Toronto Raptors — to be postponed. Their most recent game — Dec. 22 vs. the Raptors — did not go forward either, though that was because the Raptors didn’t have enough healthy players. 

The Bulls are tied with the Raptors and Brooklyn Nets for the most postponed games in the league with three. It is not clear when those games will be rescheduled. Unlike last season, the league did not plan for postponements, so there is not as much flexibility for moving games around. 

While there is no ideal time to enter the health and safety protocols, Donovan going in on Friday was particularly unfortunate. Less than 24 hours before, he announced to reporters that all of his players had been cleared and the team was set to be at full strength again for the first time in weeks. Now, just as the players got back, Donovan will have to leave. 

The Bulls’ next game is scheduled for Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. Assuming a 10-day timeline, Donovan will miss at least five games, but could be back for the team’s Jan. 3 home game against the Orlando Magic.