Possible Coaching Candidates for Oklahoma City Thunder
By Shawn Woods
Apr 21, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Next Brad Stevens?
Let me try to draw a parallel: in 2013 the Celtics were looking for a new coach after Doc Rivers took the Clippers’ job. They turned to a young coach from the Midwest who had taken a team from near anonymity to a championship contender.
Before Fred Hoiberg, the Iowa State Cyclones had one 20-win season in ten years, and were stuck looking up at teams like Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on a yearly basis. Hoiberg has since led the Cyclones to four consecutive 20-win seasons including two straight Big 12 Conference tournament championships.
While Hoiberg doesn’t have the title appearances that Stevens did, he does have a similar reputation, and also could demand respect from the players as a player who played with Michael Jordan.
While we all have our preferences on who will be the next coach of our favorite team, the most important aspect to the firing will be the continued success of the organization, and the retention of two of the biggest stars in the league.
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