After seven years as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder Scott Brooks has been fired.
Brooks was the head coach for seven seasons and has made the playoffs every year since 2008, five years straight, until this season. The Thunder were plagued with injuries to stars Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and most notably the reigning MVP Kevin Durant who only played 27 games this season. It is worth noting that the Thunder would be in the playoffs right this moment had they beat the New Orleans Pelicans in just 1 more game in their series. The Thunder’s last match up with the Pelicans ended with a game winning 3 point buzzer beater by Anthony Davis. This gave New Orleans the head to head tie breaker and they clinched the 8th spot in the West while the Thunder were kept home in the post season at 9th place.
The Thunder had their peaking moment in 2012 when they faced the Miami Heat in the NBA Championship game. They won only one game of the championship series, then armed with James Harden before his move to the Houston Rockets the next year, but have not been back to the finals since.
General manager Sam Presti gave a statement on Brooks’ release:
“This is an extremely difficult decision on many levels. 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.”
Kevin Durant took to Instagram to bid farewell to Scott.
“Today was tough for me. While I support our team’s decision 100 percent and look forward to the upcoming season and the future in OKC, Scotty was my coach and a friend for the past 7 seasons. We accomplished a lot together, and those times will never be taken away from us. I grew as both a man and a ball player under his guidance and for that I will forever be grateful. I wish nothing but the best for him and his family who have also been such a big part of this city and organization. I know he will be very successful in wherever his next steps in life are.”
All-Star MVP Russell Westbrook has yet to comment on Brooks’ departure. Both Westbrook and Durant become free agents in the off season so the uncertainty surrounding their return has just intensified. Should Durant or Westbrook not approve of the new man up for the head coaching job the two could find new homes to seek their first NBA Championship.
