Sports
Thunder Introduce New Coach Billy Donovan
Billy Donovan, newly named head coach of the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder, poses for a photo on the Thunder logo prior to a news conference in Oklahoma City, Friday, May 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
CLIFF BRUNT, AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Billy Donovan says he considers it a privilege to coach Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Donovan was introduced as the Thunder’s new coach Friday, a day after he was hired.
The pressure will be on immediately — the Thunder have been successful but haven’t won a title since moving to Oklahoma City in 2008-09. Donovan says he hopes to build on what Scott Brooks accomplished the previous seven years.
Durant is the 2013-14 MVP and Westbrook the 2014-15 scoring champion.
The 49-year-old Donovan led Florida to two national championships, four Final Fours and seven Elite Eights in 19 seasons. He jokes that he’s coached in the league before. Eight years ago, he was hired by the Orlando Magic, only to change his mind the following day.
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