NBA Rumors: Billy Donovan likely to accept Thunder job
Rumors are circulating that Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan is leaning toward taking the vacant position left by former Thunder coach Scott Brooks.
After a forgettable season in which the Florida Gators finished with a 16-17 record just one year after being the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament, head coach Billy Donovan’s name has been in the mix as a candidate for the Oklahoma City Thunder job.
No one really thought the rumors held any substance to them as he is seemingly in the mix every season for a job at the next level.
However, this seems to be much different as Donovan has been rumored to be the next coach of the Thunder by reliable sources close to the situation.
According to ESPN‘s Jeff Goodman, it’s basically a done deal.
Almost everyone I have spoken to close to Billy Donovan believes he will take the OKC job -- if/when it's offered.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 24, 2015
The NBA has had a few notable coaches make the jump from college in the past couple decades, including Celtics‘ current coach Brad Stevens and Louisville head coach, former Celtics coach, Rick Pitino.
Stevens got Boston to the playoffs in his second season as the No. 7 seed this season while Pitino struggled when he was the man in charge about 15 years ago.
Donovan has had a ton of success in college, leading Florida to 467 wins in 19 seasons as the head coach while winning two national titles during that time. Albeit, this season was just the third time in his career that he led the Gators to a losing overall record and the first time since 1997-98.
Oklahoma City fired Scott Brooks just days ago and it seems like the team is desperate to find a young coach that can relate to the players and maybe get Kevin Durant to stick around for the long-term. It was announced that Kevin Ollie was a top target for the organization while he removed his name from the running just a few days later.
In case you don’t know Donovan’s professional basketball coaching history, he accepted the Orlando Magic job in June of 2007 after the team won back-to-back national titles and then went back on it just days later, claiming he wanted to stay where he felt comfortable at Florida.
Let’s hope this isn’t the same type of situation because no one in the NBA will ever give him a chance again.
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