Are durant & westbrook out of OKC?
After 7 seasons, the Oklahoma City Thunder have unfortunately fired their long-standing head coach, Scott Brooks. Since their 2012 NBA Finals loss to the Miami Heat, the team was never the same mentally with the departure of James Harden in free agency. Along with multiple season-ending injuries from both Kevin Durant ad Russell Westbrook over the last three years, their run of making five consecutive post-seasons ended last week, when they were eliminated from playoff contention. The two superstars preferred their head coach stay with the team, due to their comfort level on and off the court with Scotty, but fans were vocal in not bringing him back next season due to on-the-fly coach and not knowing how to properly incorporate his new players on the team.
Oklahoma City has fired coach Scott Brooks, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) April 22, 2015
Even with a 45-37 record this year of coming just one game show of making the playoffs, team vice president and general manager, Sam Presti thought it was time to move forward. Former teammate of Westbrook and Durant, Kevin Ollie is being touted as the likely candidate to replace Brooks, but he’s looking to stay home in Connecticut after recently winning the NCAA Championship just last year.
With contracts for both superstars set to expire in 2016 and 2017, the next move Thunder management makes could seal the fate for whether they want to stay in Oklahoma or take their talents elsewhere. Brooks leaves the city with a .620 winning % at 338-207 from his initial interim coaching duties from 2008.
“This is an extremely difficult decision on many levels. Scott helped establish the identity of the Thunder and has earned his rightful place in the history of our organization through his seven years as a valued leader and team member,” said Sam Presti, Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager. “As we all know, this past year we had unique and challenging circumstances and as I have conveyed, not many people could have accomplished what Scott and this team were able to. Therefore, it is very important to state that this decision is not a reflection of this past season, but rather an assessment of what we feel is necessary at this point in time in order to continually evolve, progress and sustain. ”
“We determined that, in order to stimulate progress and put ourselves in the best position next season and as we looked to the future, a transition of this kind was necessary for the program. We move forward with confidence in our foundation and embrace the persistence and responsibility that is required to construct an elite and enduring basketball organization capable of winning an NBA championship in Oklahoma City.”
“We have a deep appreciation for all that Scott has contributed to the Thunder organization over the last seven years,” said Clayton I. Bennett, Thunder Chairman. “He helped us build the foundation of this team and led us to much success. While a very hard decision, I support the need to transition to a new coach that will allow us to continue the growth and progress that will help us reach all of our goals. We wish Scott and his family only the best as he moves forward.”
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