Billy Donovan leaving Oklahoma City
It was another disappointing first round playoff exit for the Oklahoma City Thunder. They were eliminated from the opening round of the National Basketball Association postseason for the fourth consecutive year and as a result, change needed to come.
On Tuesday, the club announced that head coach Billy Donovan and the organization have decided to mutually part ways after the 55-year-old spent the last five seasons with the team. Donovan led the Thunder to the Western Conference Final in his first season in charge but has failed to get them past the first round ever since. The coach’s contract expired at the end of the campaign and the two sides opted against a renewal.
“We had planned to sit down at the end of the season and discuss the best way to move forward for both of us,” Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. “After those discussions, it became apparent that we couldn’t provide him the information on the future direction of the team over the next several seasons to give him the level of clarity that he understandably desires at this stage of his career.
“Therefore, we close this chapter and reflect fondly on all that he has given to the team, organization and community. Billy will always have a place in the Thunder family.”
The Thunder were eliminated by the Houston Rockets in a tight series that went seven games. Game seven was decided by two points, with the Rockets edging past Oklahoma City 104-102. Regardless, Donovan and the Thunder knew it was time to move on.
“In knowing where he is and the caliber of coach he is, I wouldn’t want to mislead him and tell him it was going to be a certain way and then have it not be that way,” Presti said, via NBA.com. “But ultimately, it was also five years and I think in his mind, it may have been time to move on. I totally respect that and I have a great deal of respect for him. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Oklahoma City was Donovan’s first NBA coaching gig, after having spent 19 years with the University of Florida in the NCAA, leading the program to consecutive national championships in 2006 and 2007. He will remember his time with the Thunder fondly.
“I have a great respect and admiration for the players I coached in Oklahoma, and I also want to thank the coaches I worked with, who gave unbelievable time and expertise to our common goal,” Donovan said in a statement.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for both the coach and the franchise as neither announced the next steps. The Thunder did not name a new head coach yet, while Donovan’s future also remains unclear.
Oklahoma City have a plethora of draft picks though and it is believed they are planning to re-build their squad with Chris Paul likely on his way out this summer as well. The Thunder have some time before they need to make the hard decisions, with the upcoming NBA season not scheduled to start until December 1st at the earliest.
