The Chicago Bulls players were not happy after new coach Jim Boylen promised a full-on practice the morning after the team played a back-to-back, even reaching out to the NBPA over what is viewed as a regimental no-no in the NBA, according to Chris Haynes and Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
A Bulls veteran then initiated a group text, warning players that they would be personally fined if they chose to show up prepared to practice, hoping to entice a team-wide mutiny of Boylen's antics.
Robin Lopez, the elder statesman of the team at a mere 30 years old, played the voice of reason, managing to compromise and resolving that players would show up to the practice facility but would not take part in physical activities.
The Bulls met twice, first the players by their own, then the players with Boylen, airing out their grievances.
Boylen said Monday that the issue was not team-wide, as first reported by The Athletic, but rather “a couple” of players vehemently disagreeing with his coaching methods and decision to call a practice right after back-t0-back games.
Yet the fact that players were so concerned that they would call the union to protest shows that there is a deep concern with how Boylen is handling this roster, not only hosting two-and-a-half-hour practices with wind sprints in the middle of the season, but also taking the Popovich-ian route of yanking out all five of his starters at once, which he did so twice in a 56-point loss to the Boston Celtics.
Boylen's demonstrative and at times eye-opening antics hint at his willingness to put his stamp on this team after the firing of Fred Hoiberg, yet it's a stamp that has been met with plenty of disgruntled players in only a week at the helm.
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