Oklahoma City Thunder: 2015-16 Season Outlook

Three Key Storylines (cont.)

3. How Will Billy Donovan Translate To The NBA?

There might not be a single coach with more pressure on him in 2015-16 than Billy Donovan as he enters his first year as an NBA head coach. After firing Scott Brooks, OKC’s successor was already going to be under a fair amount of pressure to lead such a talented roster, but with Durant heading for free agency next summer, there’s very little room for error this season.

The Thunder might not have to win a championship this year to keep Durant in Oklahoma City, but they certainly have to come close. Because if KD doesn’t feel like this franchise is heading in the right direction, or if he’s tired of toiling away with nothing to show for it, there are 29 other teams in the league that would open their doors to him in a heartbeat.

There’s no question about Donovan’s status as one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history. With two national championships and four Final Fours to his name, Donovan clearly knows the game of basketball. But coaching at the NBA level is a little bit different, no matter how easy Brad Stevens has made it look so far.

The Thunder will be hoping that Donovan can be better with Xs and Os than Scott Brooks was on offense, but they’ll also need him to figure out how to field a passable defense with Kanter on the floor. With only one more guaranteed season of Kevin Durant, the Thunder are relying on Donovan to exceed all expectations as a rookie head coach.

Next: Best, Worst Case Scenarios