When Billy Donovan took the Head Coaching job with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was headed to a hot seat position. With Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook on the brink of both leaving a Oklahoma franchise that would dismantle without them, Donovan had to find a way to make a change, quick. He made a difference, helping lead the team to being one-quarter away from the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. The Thunder eventually lost after a miraculous comeback by the Warriors, and now Kevin Durant is on the team that he lost to. Westbrook was slated to leave or get traded, but after a 3-year contract extension, Westbrook and Donovan journey still continues in Oklahoma.
With their eyes set on the 2016-2017 season and a new friend in Victor Oladipo to add to the Thunder’s roster, Donovan and Westbrook could begin to recreate the Thunder’s championship aspirations, after Durant’s departure. Per Erik Horne of the Oklahoman:
The continually developing relationship between the All-NBA guard and Donovan.
In the weeks leading up to the preseason in October, the Westbrook-Donovan conversations will become more about basketball. Their talks this summer, however, haven’t been limited to the Thunder post-Kevin Durant or how the new offense will look.
Westbrook said sometimes it was “just saying hello.”
“That’s the most important part,” Westbrook said Thursday. “Just creating a better bond.”
When it came down to it, Westbrook and Donovan were both focused on the future. No contract talks, no free agency frenzy, just continual growth for a city and a team that has endured through a rough patch this summer. They hope the continual growth of Oladipo can help continue the Thunder’s championship aspirations as well. Per Horne:
“Future, future, future,” was how Donovan described Westbrook during their conversations in Vegas. Both understand how important Oladipo is to that future as the centerpiece of the deal that sent Serge Ibaka to Orlando. It’s why Westbrook texted Oladipo shortly after the trade to ask if he was ready. It’s why Donovan was in California last week continuing to get acquainted with what should be the most athletic backcourt in the NBA.
With pieces like Westbrook and Oladipo to scheme around, contract talks and recruiting weren’t Donovan’s talking points when they spent time together this summer.
“We never really talked about any of that stuff,” Donovan said. “My conversations with Russell were always about the team, next season, what we have to do, how we need to play.”
As Westbrook said of his numerous interactions with Donovan in the past two months, “it’s been great.”
“He got a chance to know me, I got a chance to know him, and we’re in a great place, Westbrook said, minutes before giving Donovan a couple of hugs. “I think coming into next year our relationship is in a great spot.”
Could Westbrook and Donovan be the next player-coach combination to lead a team to the promise land? The table is set for them to still be playoff contenders this season, and with Westbrook inked to the franchise for 3 more years, they will hope to attract more free agents in the next 2 years of free agency. Since Westbrook and Donovan didn’t focus on the frenzy this year, you can bet they will be focused over the next 3.
