The new Chicago Bulls front office is expected to hire high-ranking minority executives after receiving heavy criticism during their search for a top-of-the-line executive, according to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Prior to the reported hiring of Arturas Karnisovas on Thursday night, the franchise was criticized for those candidates who were considered for the job, as none were of African American.
Miami Heat vice president Adam Simon, Toronto Raptors general manager Bobby Webster, Indiana Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan, Utah Jazz general manager Justin Zanik. Former NBA general managers Danny Ferry, Bryan Colangelo, Wes Wilcox, and Karnisovas were among the eight men considered for the job.
Besides Webster, whose mother is Japanese American, all the reported candidates have been white men, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
Michael Reinsdorf, the son of owner Jerry Reinsdorf, spearheaded the hiring of Karnisovas, and the franchise asked for permission to interview Oklahoma City Thunder vice president of basketball operations Troy Weaver, an African American, but were denied by the Thunder, per Goodwill.
Karnisovas, who's yet to finalize his deal with the franchise, plans to hire a person of color to be the franchise’s general manager.
Part of the Bulls' struggle to hire a minority has to do with the predominantly white background for NBA executives, as the league's suit tier has been dominated by white men since its early days.
That has changed over time and Karnisovas plans to make an African American his right-hand man once the Bulls get around to building their front office anew.
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