Oklahoma City's head coaching situation has stopped making sense.
Days after Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook backed embattled coach Scott Brooks, probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com reported that Connecticut men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie could be in line to take over for Brooks in 2015-16.
Has Kevin Durant played his last game for Oklahoma City?
UConn coach Kevin Ollie is being "seriously considered" for the OKC coaching job, source close to the situation tells @SNYtv— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) April 20, 2015
Last week, both Westbrook and Durant complimented Brooks for the job he did in 2014-15, keeping the team together through the regular season. With Durant missing the majority of the season to a foot injury, Westbrook keep the team's playoff hopes alive until the final day of the regular season when the New Orleans Pelicans upset the San Antonio Spurs to claim the eighth and final spot.
CBSSports.com reported that it was Ollie's ties to the Thunder duo that have put him in consideration for the not-yet-vacant coaching position.
Kevin Durant talks trash to Chris Paul after taking offense to Paul's post-shot pose
"Ollie, who led the Huskies to the NCAA championship in 2014 is a longtime NBA player who was a teammate of both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant with the Thunder and remains on good terms with GM Sam Presti," CBSSports.com reported.
"Those relationships are thought to be key for Ollie's case, as he could perhaps sway Durant, a free agent after next season, to remain with the Thunder. Yahoo! Sports reported last week that Brooks' performance is being evaluated before the team commits to the coach for next season."
If Durant just backed Brooks, why would the Thunder look in another direction? Brooks has been with the Thunder for seven years as head coach and earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2010. He led the team to the 2012 NBA Finals, where the Thunder lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
But that was when Oklahoma City had James Harden, along with a healthy Kevin Durant and a healthy Russell Westbrook.
The reports of Ollie's name surfacing indicate that Durant's support for Brooks may not be as solid as it appears to be.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
