The Bulls haven’t won a playoff series since 2015.
They haven’t had a No. 1 draft pick since hitting on Derrick Rose in 2008.
The last time they even had a winning record in the regular season? The 2021-22 season in which they went 46-36 – the one time in the last decade they have posted a record above .500.
Bryson Graham has a lot of work to do.
In the wake of firing former executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley last month, the Bulls began the rebuild of the front office by landing Graham in somewhat of a surprising move.
The momentum the past few weeks had current Timberwolves GM – and a former long-time do-everything Bulls employee – Matt Lloyd as the favorite, but Graham reportedly stole the show in the in-person interview process and was announced as the winner on Monday.
“We’re excited to name Bryson Graham as our Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations,” team president Michael Reinsdorf said in a statement. “Bryson is an elite talent evaluator who has earned tremendous respect across the league, and that stood out immediately during our process. He has worked his way up through basketball operations from the ground level, and that experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build and sustain a successful organization.
“He is an effective communicator, a disciplined and thoughtful decision-maker, and someone who truly connects with players and people. He understands today’s league, today’s players, and what it takes to develop talent and build a winning culture. Just as important, Bryson is committed to building a high-level group around him. He knows what he does well, and he is focused on surrounding that with strong leadership across strategy, scouting, and player development. This is an important step for our organization. We know there is work ahead, but we are confident in Bryson’s ability to lead, build, and move us forward.”
Graham comes to the Bulls on a bit of a hot streak as far as front offices go, most recently the senior VP of basketball operations with the Hawks, where he did a complete overhaul to that team’s front office and its philosophy.
“I am incredibly honored to join the Chicago Bulls organization,” Graham said. “This is one of the most storied franchises in the history of professional basketball, and I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to deliver results for this city and these fans. My entire career has been built on the belief that sustained success starts with finding the right players and developing an all-around impactful culture. I want to thank Jerry and Michael Reinsdorf and the entire Bulls organization for presenting me with this opportunity. I am ready to get to work.”