It has been finally made official. Scott Brooks will no longer be at the helm of the OKC Thunder after the team parted ways with the embattled head coach.
Rumors about Brooks getting the pink slip surfaced after the Thunder failed to make the playoffs. Though general manager Sam Presti made it clear that Brooks' firing was not an indication of how he fared during his tenure, he explained that the team felt the move was necessary.
Despite having two of the best players in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in the lineup, the best finish the Thunder had was way back in the 2011-2012 season. They were only able to win game 1 at home but eventually bowed to an obviously superior Miami Heat team which had Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Brooks inherited the head coaching reins in 2009, the same year he got the nod for the NBA Coach of the Year. He is the third winningest coach in (Seattle Supersonics/ OKC Thunder) franchise history behind Lenny Wilkens and George Karl.
Brooks found it difficult to steer the team, especially with injuries to his top gunners Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Westbrook, it will be recalled suffered a torn meniscus in 2013 and sat out most of the next season as well.
After Westbrook, Durant was virtually out in the current season due to injury as well. Durant initially had a Jones fracture and would later on struggle with various injuries to his ankle and right foot.
Brooks' accomplishments with the Thunder will of course not go unnoticed. Several teams are expected to look into the possibility of getting the former NBA coach of the year.
Teams like the Orlando Magic and the Denver Nuggets serve as possible next stops, two teams on the prowl for new head coaches.
The Thunder are reportedly considering UConn coach Kevin Ollie to take over the head coaching position though Ollie revealed that he had no plans to pursue other opportunities.
Another name in the mix is Billy Donovan, who has been a prime target by other teams for their head coaching vacancies.
