Incredible! Scott Brooks, the former head coach of the Thunder, has announced his return to the team.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fired their coach on Wednesday, ending their four-year relationship with the former NBA coach of the year, who took the team to three straight conference finals before struggling this season due to injuries to key players.
For seven years, Brooks led the Thunder as their coach. He guided the group to the Western Conference Finals three of the four seasons it began in 2010–11; in 2012, the team made it to the NBA Finals. Oklahoma City finished 45-37 last season due to injuries, missing out on the playoffs.
NBA Coach of the Year in 2009-10, Brooks had a record of 338–207 (.620) while playing for the Thunder. He stated last week that he anticipated serving as the head coach the following year.
A year before Kevin Durant could become a free agent, Thunder general manager Sam Presti acknowledged that firing such a successful coach would be risky, but he believed that if a change wasn’t made, the team would regress.
“The risk is not necessarily in moving forward, but I think sometimes the risk can be in being fearful of moving forward,” he stated.
The NBA MVP from the previous season, Durant, reacted to the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday night.
“I had a difficult day today,” he said. Although I wholeheartedly agree with our team’s decision and am excited about the forthcoming season and my future in Oklahoma City, Scotty served as both my coach and a friend for the previous seven seasons. Together, we achieved a great deal, and we will always treasure those moments.
He helped me develop as a man and a baseball player, and I will always be appreciative of that. Since his family has played such a significant role in this community and organization, I only have the best wishes for him and them. I’m confident that he will succeed in all of his future endeavors.”
Many people chastised Brooks for not winning a championship while having Russell Westbrook and Durant on his team. While Westbrook was this year’s All-Star MVP and scoring champion, Durant was last year’s MVP and a four-time scoring champion.
This season, the Thunder struggled to a 3-12 start due to injuries to Durant and Westbrook. Presti supported Brooks all season and stated that the choice was not made exclusively on the basis of this season’s results.
“His contributions to this organization stand on their own,” Presti stated. “We certainly wouldn’t be in the position we are right now, where we feel like we’re able to make this transition with some momentum, without the work of him and the other assistant coaches that have been a part of this program during his tenure.”
Nevertheless, as the season went on, Brooks grew irritated with rumors and skeptics.
Just prior to the All-Star break, Brooks stated, “I understand a lot of people out there are criticizing.” “I’m not concerned about it. Among the many wonderful things my mother taught me was to never listen to “they.It is never appropriate for them to influence your thoughts, your preparation, or your goals.”
This season, Durant only appeared in 27 games due to a broken right foot bone. The defensive captain of the team, Serge Ibaka, underwent surgery on his right knee and missed the last month of play.
Last week, Westbrook praised Brooks, saying, “He did a great job.” “I believe he doesn’t receive enough recognition for some of the work he performs in the background. As a friend and coach, I think he does a fantastic job of communicating what he expects of his players. Of course, there are many people outside of this building who may want him to do different things.”
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