Scott Brooks played in the NBA for ten seasons as a point guard for the 76ers, Timberwolves, Rockets, Mavericks, Knicks, and Cavaliers. However, Brooks isn’t remembered in the league for his tenure in the NBA. For the past seven sevens, Brooks coached the Oklahoma City Thunder and did an exceptional job. His resume for the Thunder is one to be respected, although he wasn’t the best coach and has had his downfalls; he still managed to rack up wins with OKC.
In a tough Western Conference, he managed to win the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2010 and coach two All Star Games for the Western Conference in 2012 and 2014. Additionally, Brooks has coached OKC to four 50-win seasons in his seven season reign. He was able to control the egos of two superstars and formerly three superstars, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. They are all capable of leading a franchise, but Brooks was able to get all three to buy into a team basketball with spurts of isolation in order to win games. He coached the 2011-2012 Thunder team led by Durant and Westbrook with Harden as sixth man to a 47-19 record and a place in the 2012 NBA Finals. Although they lost to the Miami Heat that season, it is no easy task to coach a team to the NBA Finals.
Disregarding their inability to win a championship, Oklahoma City was always in the picture for playoff and title contention; which makes this firing even more head-scratching. This season should be seen with somewhat of an asterisk because OKC was missing the second best basketball player in the world Kevin Durant; who was injured for a majority of the season. It is highly questionable if the Phil Jackson coached Chicago Bulls would have won so many titles if Michael Jordan had been injured during their runs. OKC has fired a very capable coach and arguably one of the best coaches in the NBA leaving NBA fans with the same reaction they felt when George Karl was fired by the Denver Nuggets in 2012; a feeling of disbelief and confusion.
Kevin Ollie’s name has been in the mix for some time in the talks of taking Scott Brooks’ job, so this firing may have been an attempt to pursue Ollie for the position. Ollie and Durant have a history and were teammates in the 2009-2010 season. Durant trusts him and Oklahoma City must figure that if he is the coach, that it will encourage Durant to stay in town for several more years. Kevin will be a free agent in 2016, so OKC must be worried about whether or not Durant feels he should stay put. Ollie may influence his decision, but he may also be influenced to sign with his hometown team in that offseason. Playing alongside Bradley Beal and John Wall is very enticing, and with Russell Westbrook getting a taste of leading his own team, Durant may be in OKC without his sidekick. Ollie, who is also reported to not want the job enjoying his position with UConn, will not determine whether or not Durant stays in OKC. In closing, firing Scott Brooks after one season doesn't seem like a smart move for the Thunder present or their future. http://www.getmoresports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/scott-brooks-kevin-durant.jpg
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