OKC Thunder Trivia: uncovering 50 fun, surprising and random facts

Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
Russell Westbrook, OKC Thunder (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks to media after game against the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – APRIL 27: Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks to media after game against the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah.  (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Billy Donovan has done more than coach.

According to NewsOK, after a brief season with the New York Knicks, coach Billy Donovan had a bit of an unexpected career change. What was his short-term job? Donovan was a stock broker on Wall Street.

Additionally, he and his wife Christine helped open a Catholic high school in Gainesville, FL. After raising funds and assisting with planning, the school opened in 2004.

Of course, Donovan is most well-known for basketball. Prior to becoming the OKC Thunder head coach in April of 2015, Donovan spent the 1987-88 season as a reserve guard for the New York Knicks. Incidentally, his Knicks coach was also his college coach, Rick Pitino. And just a year later, Donovan joined Ptino as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky.

In 1996, Donovan became the head coach of the University of Florida Gators – where he first coached now-Thunder player Corey Brewer. Before his time at Florida came to an end, the team made four Final Four appearances and earned two NCAA championships.