Jim Boylen was fired by the Chicago Bulls because he didn't win enough basketball games. That was the primary reason. However, it was not the only reason. A big issue that didn't play in his favor was how much a number of players on the roster hated him. No matter what the man said publicly, it was obvious to all that nobody enjoyed having him as the head coach.
At the heart of it all was Zach Lavine.
The 25-year old guard had the best season of his career in 2019-2020 in terms of averaging 25.8 points per game. Don't be misled though. He didn't do it because of Boylen or for Boylen. He did it in spite of Boylen. When the season began the two weren't friends but they were at least on the same page. That began to change as things progressed.
How crazy did it get? Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic had a story that must be seen to be believed.
On the surface, the relationship between Boylen and LaVine appeared to be improving when LaVine offered to pay one of his coach’s fines the previous March. After a double ejection on the coaches following a sideline quarrel with L.A. Clippers coach Doc Rivers in 2019, LaVine explained he wanted to stick up for his coach.
“I didn’t feel like he deserved it,” LaVine said days later. “So I wanted to stick up for him. He sticks up for us a lot. I feel like he hasn’t got enough credit for that. We’re not winning and he’s still coaching us hard. We’re going somewhere. I appreciate that.”
What LaVine didn’t appreciate, according to a person familiar with the situation, was Boylen leaking the gesture to the press. What was intended as an olive branch quickly turned into a publicity stunt orchestrated by Boylen to make himself look good.
That is proof Jim Boylen only cared about Jim Boylen
In many ways, it's so fitting that Boylen was the last head coach Gar Forman hired. The two were remarkably similar from a mentality standpoint. As long as it made them look good in the eyes of the media, the well-being of others didn't matter. Lavine offered to pay that fine in good concience that it would be kept between them.
The head coach rewarded that gesture by leaking it instead. All in an effort to make it seem like he and his star player were all smiles. Ironically that move only made the tension between the two worse. That kind of stupidity and self-indulgence is rare for an NBA head coach. Another reminder that the Bulls were delusional in supporting him publicly for as long as they did.
