Chicago Bulls insiders are sounding the alarm as head coach Billy Donovan reportedly finds himself battling something far more dangerous than any opponent on the schedule: the complete erosion of unity within his own team. The Bulls’ recent string of losses has exposed deep fractures in the locker room, where trust has evaporated, accountability is fading, and personal agendas appear to be taking priority over collective success. Multiple sources describe a team that no longer communicates, no longer shares the ball, and no longer believes in the same vision—if any vision remains at all.
According to those close to the situation, Donovan has addressed the team multiple times about what he calls a “growing selfishness” infecting the roster. Instead of playing with purpose and flow, players are reportedly holding the ball, over-dribbling, and looking for their own shots rather than making the extra pass. The once-fluid offensive sets have crumbled into isolation possessions and broken plays, each one exposing the widening gap between teammates who no longer trust one another. Donovan is said to be increasingly frustrated, even raising his voice in sessions where he normally keeps a steady tone.
Veteran players, meanwhile, are privately voicing concerns that some younger members of the roster are more interested in building individual stat lines than grinding out wins. One player described recent practices as “a battle for who gets the ball first,” highlighting a competitive tension that feels less like healthy internal drive and more like a symptom of a fractured culture. Conversely, several younger players reportedly believe the veterans are clinging to power, refusing to adapt, and shutting down creative offensive choices. The divide has become so pronounced that some players now avoid sitting next to each other during film sessions.
The tension is spilling into games in unmistakable ways. Possessions routinely feature three or four players standing still while one teammate dribbles into a double team. Players known for their unselfishness are suddenly forcing shots early in the clock. Transition opportunities collapse because no one wants to be the one to make the pass; everyone wants to be the one who finishes. For a team that once relied on collective grit and ball movement, the transformation has been jarring—and costly.
Donovan, for his part, is said to be “deeply concerned” that losing streaks are no longer the cause but the consequence of this unraveling. He reportedly told a staff member that the team is acting like “five separate players wearing the same jersey” instead of one unit with shared goals. The coaching staff has tried to introduce new accountability measures, emphasizing communication and decision-making, but the changes haven’t taken root. In fact, some players feel these attempts only underscore how far the team has drifted from its core identity.
Front-office executives are beginning to monitor the situation closely, aware that internal discord can spiral into irreversible damage—especially as trade season looms. While no major decisions have been made yet, sources indicate that the patience of management may be thinning. If the locker room continues to fracture and the on-court product keeps nosediving, drastic roster moves could become inevitable.
For now, Billy Donovan is fighting to hold the room together, but the cracks are widening. The question is no longer whether there is a problem inside the Bulls locker room—it’s how long the organization can wait before the situation explodes into something far bigger. And if things don’t change soon, fans may be witnessing the early stages of a collapse the team won’t easily come back from.
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