The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to hire Splitter as the team’s new head coach, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Monday.

Splitter, 41, earned his first NBA head coaching job this past season in an interim capacity, stepping in for Chauncey Billups early in the season after he was placed on leave while being investigated for illegal gambling.

The Brazilian first-timer led the Blazers to a 42-39 regular-season record in his 81 games in charge, but bowed out to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

Prior to his coaching career, Splitter spent seven years in the NBA and won a title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. The former centre averaged 7.9 points, five rebounds and 1.2 assists in 355 games, split between the Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers.

He began coaching in 2019 as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets under Kenny Atkinson and Steve Nash, then worked as an assistant with the Houston Rockets. He then served as head coach for Paris Basketball in the 2024-25 season before eventually returning to the NBA with the Blazers as an assistant in 2025.

Chicago, meanwhile, parted ways with long-time head coach Billy Donovan after the 2025-26 season as the side finished with a 31-51 record and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

The Trail Blazers have yet to fill their head coaching vacancy.