Fansided

Kevin Durant likes Oklahoma City’s hire of Billy Donovan

By Connor Muldowney

Feb 19, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Just about a week after firing head coach Scott Brooks, the Oklahoma City Thunder hired Billy Donovan. It seems like Kevin Durant is pretty happy with the hire.

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Everyone close to the Oklahoma City Thunder organization has been worried about one thing ever since firing head coach Scott Brooks: how can we make Kevin Durant happy enough to stay?

With just one season remaining on his five-year, $89 million deal signed in 2011, Durant looks to be the main component of a rising franchise. Sure, the Thunder didn’t make the NBA playoffs this season, but Durant was also injured for the majority of it, playing in just 27 games.

Now that the Thunder have hired former Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan, people are turning to the superstar to see what he thinks.

Apparently, KD is pretty happy with the hire, according to ESPN‘s Royce Young, and even said that the two will have a good relationship — exactly what you want to hear from your star player.

"“When you don’t have a coach, it’s a lot of uncertainty in the buildingBut coming into the practice facility today, I felt like it was a next step for us. It was an exciting feeling for everybody that was there at the gym today to learn that we got Billy as our coach. We’re excited, so we’re looking forward to it.”"

While it seems like Scott Brooks did as much as he could with a heavily-injured team in 2014-15, he still didn’t do enough to keep his job. The former head coach led the Thunder to five playoffs in seven years, including three Western Conference Finals and one NBA Finals appearance.

Donovan has been one of the most successful college coaches in the past 20 years, winning back-t0-back national titles in 2006 and 2007 as well as making four Final Fours, winning six SEC regular season titles and being named the conference’s coach of the year three times.

The 49-year-old coach brought Florida into the national spotlight for the past two decades. The players loved him and it seems like Oklahoma City’s stars will be affected the same way.

Durant even downplayed the lack of NBA experience Donovan has:

"“I wouldn’t say [experience] matters. If you know how to coach a team, that’s all that matters. He’s been at one of the highest levels of basketball and won a title. That’s tough to do. So you can’t just downplay what he’s done in the college ranks and just automatically say he’s not going to be great in the pros. He produced a lot of pros, and they all love him.”"

The reigning NBA MVP also had more high praise for his future coach.

"“But I know he’s going to do a good job because from what I’ve heard he works extremely hard, his attention to detail is one of the best and everybody’s been telling me he’s an NBA coach coaching in college. So I’m excited. I’m very excited to learn from him and get better from him and try my best to do whatever he tells me to do. I can’t wait to get started.”"

It looks like the relationship is set to be strong in Oklahoma City. Maybe the Thunder can convince Russell Westbrook and Durant to stay for a while and build a dynasty with Donovan.

Good hire, OKC.

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