Unlike your actual anniversary, I’m sure today is a day you’ll never forget!
On April 8th, 2020 – in the middle of a global pandemic that indefinitely shut down the NBA universe – the Chicago Bulls made a historic decision. After nearly two decades of the same old leadership and countless fan complaints, ownership finally hired the organization’s new front office leader.
At exactly 11:23 p.m. CT, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski dropped the bomb many of us had anxiously been waiting for:
The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal with Denver Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas to become the franchise’s new Executive VP of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Karnisovas will be tasked with hiring a new GM and reshaping the front office.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 9, 2020
Why isn’t this tweet framed in my house yet?
Of course, we already knew the search was on for a fresh lead executive, but this day truly put the nail in the coffin on the old regime. Only five days later, Gar Forman was fired and John Paxson disappeared into an advisory role.
Bulls fans have since seen massive strides taken. Billy Donovan is now the man in charge, Patrick Williams is the team’s most promising rookie in years, Zach LaVine is an All-star, and freakin’ Nikola Vucevic is on the Bulls. And those are just the highlights of a year that included numerous other internal and roster upgrades.
So, if this is all magic that can happen in just one year’s time – again, in the midst of one of the craziest years in NBA history – then I can only imagine what lies ahead.
Thank you, AK. Happy Anniversary!
Feel free to read the posts below for some #ThrowbackThursday vibes:
It’s Happening: Bulls Reportedly Hiring Arturas Karnisovas as New VP of Basketball Operationshttps://t.co/A1DMreNlRL
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 9, 2020
Arturas Karnisovas Fallout: Respect from Other GMs, Thibodeau Approves, Bulls Succeed Where Others Failed, Morehttps://t.co/TiJ7ghNqxd
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 9, 2020
The Day Has Come: Gar Forman Fired, John Paxson Moves into Advisory Rolehttps://t.co/PzlcVe7PPH
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 13, 2020
Officially Official: Marc Eversley is the New Bulls GM and He’s Ready to Restore Gloryhttps://t.co/cc8gUUOblD
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 1, 2020