Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters that the team had a players only meeting after their opening night blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The visiting Thunder beat the Bulls 124-104 on Wednesday night.
Donovan said when he walked into the locker room, that the players were in “heated conversation”. Donovan said he asked the team if they wanted the coaches to leave while they talked. The players said yes, so the coaches stepped out.
The Bulls coach did emphasize that players “weren’t screaming at each other”. Players confirmed that, while adding that the conversations were necessary.
“It’s maybe one of the first times since I’ve been here that it was like this and it was really needed,” Nikola Vucevic said.
Zach LaVine added, “I don’t think we played with enough heart.”