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UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Billy Donovan, the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, has been at the helm for half of his ten seasons in the NBA. During this time, he has led the team to the playoffs just once. Even accounting for his five successful years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Donovan has managed to advance beyond the first round only a single time.
With a commendable NBA record of 438-365, he stands at 50th for regular-season wins and shares the 68th spot with Larry Brown, boasting a winning percentage of .548. Among the 49 coaches with superior win percentages in NBA history, 33 are not currently enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
That will change on Saturday night, however, when Donovan is officially inducted as part of the Class of 2025 in a ceremony at Symphony Hall in Springfield, Massachusetts. He will join Carmelo Anthony, a player he coached for one season in Oklahoma City, and Dwight Howard, whom he unsuccessfully sought to recruit to the University of Florida.
The class will also include prominent names from the WNBA, such as Sue Bird, Maya Moore, and Sylvia Fowles, alongside longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.
This year’s Class of 2025 reflects the diverse tapestry of basketball, as is customary for enshrinement classes at the Naismith Hall. Unlike the other major sports halls that predominantly celebrate NFL, NHL, and MLB figures, the basketball hall embraces excellence across various categories, honoring both domestic and international players, as well as coaches from high school and collegiate levels, regardless of gender.
This inclusivity allows an array of figures, from Larry Bird to Oscar Schmidt, Lisa Leslie, Barbara Stevens, Bo Ryan, Spencer Haywood, Dino Radja, and Ben Wallace, to all be celebrated under the same Hall of Fame umbrella. The hall is distinct in its approach to recognizing talent and contributions to the game.
Returning to Donovan, the Rockville Centre, N.Y. native has established a solid reputation within the NBA, demonstrating a competitive spirit that has benefited both contending teams like the Thunder and those currently in a rebuilding phase such as the Bulls.
However, it is his remarkable tenure in college basketball, particularly his 19 years at the University of Florida, that will earn him the coveted orange sport coat that symbolizes membership in the Naismith Hall of Fame.
During his time in Gainesville from 1996 to 2015, Donovan achieved an impressive 467-186 record (.715), leading the Gators to four Final Four appearances and clinching consecutive NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007. When coupled with his two years at Marshall (1994-96), his overall collegiate record stands at 502-206 (.709).
Following his second national title, Donovan contemplated a new chapter in the NBA, signing a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Orlando Magic in June 2007. However, he quickly reconsidered, and within just six days, he opted to return to Florida, with the stipulation that he refrain from coaching in the NBA for at least five years.
Donovan continued in college for an additional eight years, mentoring more players who made it to the NBA Draft, bringing his total to 18, with notable names like Joakim Noah, Al Horford, Bradley Beal, Corey Brewer, Jason Williams, Mike Miller, among others.
Now, as the NBA’s sole active Hall of Fame coach—with Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups having previously been enshrined as players—Donovan has not yet reached the NBA Finals or claimed a Larry O’Brien Trophy. Nonetheless, he believes that the qualities which contributed to his success at Florida can translate effectively to the professional level as well.
“To be up here in the Hall of Fame, you must have great players,” he stated Friday during a media gathering at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center. The enshrinement festivities take place over two days, featuring a banquet at the resort and casino and the official ceremony in Springfield the following day. A sizable group of Donovan’s relatives, friends, and former and current players attended to honor this achievement.
“For me,” Donovan remarked, “this recognition reflects the positive and impactful relationships I’ve had throughout my career.”
Influencing his journey was Rick Pitino, who coached Donovan during his time as a point guard at Providence and later when he played briefly for the New York Knicks after being waived by the Utah Jazz.
Less prominently acknowledged are three former NBA players and coaches—Maurice Cheeks, Monty Williams, and Mark Bryant—who guided Donovan through his transition from college coaching to the NBA. All were part of the Thunder coaching staff, with Cheeks working alongside Donovan for nine years at both Oklahoma City and Chicago.
“They shared valuable wisdom with me,” he noted.
Many college coaches have made the leap to the NBA only to fall short, such as Mike Montgomery and Lon Kruger. Donovan acknowledges the luck he had when he inherited the Thunder just three years after they reached the 2012 Finals.
“There are many excellent coaches out there who may never get to coach a Carmelo Anthony or a Kevin Durant or a Joakim Noah or an Al Horford or a Bradley Beal,” he observed. “That doesn’t mean we won every year, but those situations create a unique opportunity to accomplish remarkable things.”
His journey has led him to this moment in the Hall of Fame, where he has recently secured a contract extension in July and maintains a drive for a fresh start with 82 new games set to begin next month.
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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email, explore his archive, and follow him on X.
