It was not surprising when Oklahoma City Thunder’s general manager Sam Presti announced the firing of coach Scott Brooks recently. In a statement, Presti intimated that “This is an extremely difficult decision on many levels. 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.”
Scott Brooks has an impressive resume. He actually played 10 seasons in the NBA and is part of the 1994 Houston Rockets championship team. He was named interim coach of the Thunder in November 2008 and became the full-time coach in April 2009. He ended his first season with a 22-47 record. In his next five seasons, he led the Thunder to the playoffs including 3 Western Conference Finals and the 2012 NBA Finals. He was also named the 2009-2010 NBA Coach of the Year and coached two All-Star games. Moreover, he developed and nurtured the talent of this young squad and made them perennial contenders. The only thing missing is an NBA championship.
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