On May 23, three days after the Bulls shockingly won the first pick in the NBA draft lottery, general manager John Paxson took a call from Doug Collins.
That Collins called Paxson wasn’t at all unusual; the two friends often speak about basketball, and Paxson occasionally seeks advice from the coach for whom he once played.
This call, however, carried surprising news: Collins wanted to coach again. And, mere weeks after rebuffing an inquiry about interest in the job, he wanted a second tour of duty with the Bulls.
Barring an unforeseen snag in contract negotiations, Collins, 56, will be introduced as the 17th coach in franchise history, 19 years after Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf fired him as the 12th.
“When we fired Doug, I made a statement — that many people have thrown in my face — that he got us from Point A to Point B but couldn’t get us to Point C,” Reinsdorf said in a phone interview. “It’s proved to be right because Doug was very young and very emotional.
“Twenty years later, people change. You have to keep an open mind. Firing Doug had nothing to do with his coaching ability or basketball knowledge. He’s a brilliant basketball mind. I have tremendous respect and admiration for Doug. But no agreement has been reached.”
Three days after Collins’ surprising call, Paxson and Reinsdorf flew to interview Collins on Memorial Day in San Antonio, where he worked Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, a source said. Collins has had one follow-up phone interview, the source said.
“It’s a very important decision and one we won’t rush into,” Reinsdorf said.
Paxson and Collins preached similar patience in separate statements, both saying dialogue would resume following Collins’ work with TNT on the Western Conference finals, which ended Thursday night. Reached via cell phone, Collins deferred to his statement but added, “There is interest, obviously, on both sides.”
Sources stressed it’s only a matter of time before a contract is signed.
“Contrary to some reports that are currently out there, we have not reached an agreement,” Paxson’s statement said. “When that [conference finals] series concludes, we will continue our dialogue. In the meantime, I will continue to talk to other candidates and review our options.”
That the Bulls and Collins even have reached this point — call it Point D? — sent shock waves through the NBA’s annual predraft camp.
Collins turned down offers to take over the Milwaukee franchise in the summer of 2005 and again last month before the Bucks hired John Hammond as general manager and Scott Skiles as coach.
On May 8, in comments to ESPN.com’s Mark Stein, Collins took matters a step further by declaring he had no interest in the vacant Suns’ job.
“I have no desire to do that,” Collins told Stein. “I consider it a compliment when people mention me, but I just love my life now. The work that has to be done and the headaches you have to put up with today, I’m not willing to pay that price. It’s just too tough. I get a chance to see my children now and my grandchildren. I’ve probably given up the competitive side of myself.”
Sources said Collins’ extremely close relationship with Paxson, his friendship with Reinsdorf and the young talent the Bulls will add to by winning the draft lottery changed his mind.
Speaking on Thursday’s TNT telecast, Collins credited his son, Chris, for helping him overcome previous hesitancy.
“Chris called me the other day and said, ‘Dad, I think you’re a head coach and there are situations that would be great for you, and I want you to pursue those things,'” Collins said.
“I have the assurances from my daughter-in-law and my daughter that my grandkids will [make] a lot of visits to me if something like that were to come about. … They’re going to see their Papa no matter what.”
Beyond family, Collins is a coach.
“I think it’d be a great hire,” said one Eastern Conference executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Doug relates well to players, works well with young talent, which the Bulls have, and gives teams a jump when he takes over.”
Indeed, the Bulls’ record improved by 10 games when Collins took over in 1986. The Pistons and Wizards both improved by 18 games in his first season as their coach.
Over 7 1/2 seasons, Collins owns a career record of 332-287. He went 137-109 from 1986-89 with the Bulls, leading them to the conference finals for the first time in 14 years just before his firing in July 1989.
Paxson, according to sources, first contacted Collins about the job shortly after firing interim coach Jim Boylan on April 17. At that time, Collins indicated he did not want to coach again.
Thus began a six-week search that included a high-profile dalliance with Mike D’Antoni, who left the Suns for the Knicks, and interviews with Rick Carlisle, Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw, Tyrone Corbin, Jeff Hornacek, Chuck Person, Dwane Casey, Mark Jackson and Jeff Bzdelik. Reinsdorf insisted Paxson wants to conduct more interviews, although those could be for Collins’ assistants.
Collins, a Benton, Ill., native who later starred at Illinois State and in the NBA, brings a fiery, passionate demeanor to the sidelines. On the day he fired Boylan, Paxson expressed his desire to hire someone who would resonate with players and fans.
Few Bulls fans ever will forget the image of a joyous Collins — his arms outstretched, his curly hair flowing, his smile huge — sprinting onto the court after Michael Jordan’s jumper over the Cavaliers’ Craig Ehlo ended their first-round series and started that 1989 playoff run.
Two years later, the Bulls began their run of six championships in eight seasons. Reinsdorf, according to a source, sent Collins championship rings to acknowledge his work in getting the Bulls close.
Soon, Collins and the Bulls will chase championships again.
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
