Bulls Hire Familiar Face, NCAA Assistant as New G League Head Coach

The Chicago Bulls have landed on a new G League head coach.

The decision comes a couple of weeks after the franchise officially thanked Billy Donovan III for his time in the top chair. The son of the Bulls' former head coach, Donovan III was in charge of the Windy City Bulls for each of the last two seasons. It's unclear whether he left on his own or if new front office leader Bryson Graham called for the change.

Rumors did emerge last week that former NBA player Quincy Pondexter would be named the G League affiliate's new head coach. K.C. Johnson of Marquee Sports Network has now confirmed that hire.

Pondexter played nine years in the NBA, which included a stint with the Bulls in 2017-18, where he appeared in 23 games.

Windy City Bulls Hire Quincy Pondexter

Jan 16, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Quincy Pondexter (3) during warmups prior to the against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports

Quincy Pondexter got his start in the coaching world shortly after moving on from his playing career. It all started with an assistant gig with the Washington Huskies, which is also where Pondexter played his NCAA ball and became worthy of a first-round selection in the 2010 NBA Draft (26th by OKC).

Pondexter would serve on the staff until 2024, eventually departing for another assistant gig with USC. He joined Eric Musselman's new team but eventually decided to return to Huskies Nation ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

In other words, Pondexter does not currently have any NBA coaching experience, making him a pretty fascinating choice for the G League opening. With that said, this is the exact kind of role where an organization should feel comfortable taking a swing. Pondexter has clearly become a respected NCAA voice, and his years of NBA playing experience should undoubtedly help him in this adjustment.

There is also something to be said about working with college athletes over the last handful of years. The Bulls are starting a rebuild, and Pondexter has recently played a critical role in the development of young athletes. The fit makes sense on paper.

A G League head coach position may not feel all that high-stakes, but it's certainly a big hire considering where the Bulls are at. Whether it be Noa Essengue, Jaylin Sellers, or even Dailyn Swain, there are bound to be some intriguing names clocking real minutes with the Windy City squad this year.

Speaking of which, the previous regime didn't seem to use the G League affiliate much for development or scouting, but you never know how that could change under Graham. If anything, a big-swing hire like this could suggest that there will be more attention paid to the team in the near future.

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