Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks is a man who is about to watch his contract expire. This has to be worrisome for fans of the Thunder who watched Brooks turn the team from a laughing stock into one of the NBA’s elite teams. However, Thunder General Manager Sam Presti said on June 24 that he expects to retain his coach.
“To me, it’s rubbish,†Presti said when asked if the Thunder were considering hiring former Los Angeles Lakers’ manager Phil Jackson or former Orlando Magic coach Jeff Van Gundy.
“Scotty is an integral part of our organization and critical to our success,†Presti said. “We value him greatly and we're looking forward to having those (contract) conversations, as he said, in the coming days."
Brooks took over as head coach of the Thunder four years ago when Oklahoma City was one of the worst teams in the NBA. When they moved from Seattle, they brought a lot of baggage they had to shake. When Brooks took over as head coach, he won 23 games that first year.
His second year in charge, Brooks took Oklahoma City to the postseason, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. The second season, he led them to the Western Conference Finals, where they lost to the Dallas Mavericks. This past season, he led them to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Miami Heat. With that progression, the city’s first NBA Championship should be right around the corner.
“He's been integral to our success,†Presti said. “We wouldn't be the situation that we're in without him and his commitment to our organization and our players.â€
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