The Bulls are hiring Maurice “Mo” Cheeks as an assistant coach on Billy Donovan’s inaugural staff, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Chicago Monday. The Athletic's Shams Charania first reported the news.
A Chicago native and former DuSable High School standout, Cheeks has followed a Hall-of-Fame, 15-year NBA playing career with 24 and counting in the professional coaching ranks — first as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1994-2000; then as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers from 2001-2005 (accruing a 162-139 record) and 76ers from 2005-2009 (122-147); then as an assistant with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2009-2013 and 2015-2020. His time in Oklahoma City was broken up by a brief stint as head coach of the Detroit Pistons (21-29) that was cut short after just 50 games.
For those latter five years in Oklahoma City, Cheeks was an integral part of Donovan's staff. That, combined with his Chicago ties, led to him being rumored for a position with the Bulls since the day of Donovan’s hiring.
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In Chicago, he’ll join a staff that is also reportedly welcoming former Milwaukee Bucks assistant Josh Longstaff. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, former 76ers assistant John Bryant will have a role too, though his duties aren’t yet defined.
Chris Fleming, who began the first of a three-year contract with the Bulls last season, remains aboard after Donovan parted with four holdover assistants in Roy Rogers, Dean Cooper, Nate Loenser and Karen Stack Umlauf in October.
The net result is four assistants on Donovan’s bench, depending on Bryant’s role. The latest addition marks a homecoming for a Chicago legend.
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