In the news for June 11 features a logical answer to why OKC Thunder assistant coaches keep exiting and serves up more NBA Finals humor via Jimmy Kimmel.
Giving a plausible explanation behind OKC Thunder staff exits:
Have you ever noticed that sometimes if you stare at one isolated spot too long it becomes blurry? Well, similarly if you get so caught up in one thought process for too long your thinking can become skewed. I’m guilty of this precise thing having wanted to hear OKC Thunder head coach Billy Donovan wouldn’t return as the bench boss for the 2019-2020 season.
So when three of his associated coaches all accepted jobs with other teams I immediately jumped to the conclusion it had to be because of Donovan. My focus became so narrow my vision became blurred.
The trio of Donovan assistants exiting are Mark Bryant and Darko Rajakovic who are both headed to Phoenix to work with new Suns Head Coach and former Thunder assistant Monty Williams. The third associate coach Bob Beyer departs to join new Sacramento Kings Head Coach, Luke Walton‘s staff. My knee jerk reaction was either these assistants preferred to work for someone else or expected Billy D to get the boot.
However, an article by Erik Horne of The Oklahoman points to a very logical reason why Donovan’s staff may be exiting.
"Donovan is one of just three coaches in the NBA entering the final year of his contract…..Such uncertainty affects coaching staffs. The Thunder has had three assistants — Mark Bryant, Darko Rajakovic and Bob Beyer — leave for other teams in the last 17 days. Those assistants couldn’t receive assurances about their futures, which raises another question: How does a team fill out a staff with strong assistants if there are no assurances beyond this year?"
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- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder
Absorbing those words makes the once unclear situation (or my case a clearly biased view) crystal clear and offers the take the air of the tires practical answer. Hat tip to Horne for making me recognize an own my narrow view.
Jimmy Kimmel continues to give NBA Finals a comedic edge:
Prior to every game in the NBA Finals fans get the benefit of tickling their funny bone as Jimmy Kimmel serves up the goods. In a recent segment, Kimmel showcased the dumbest questions asked by journalists and reporters in NBA history.
In all, there were six dumb questions which made the cut on this Kimmel segment including four players and two coaches. Gregg Popovich and David Blatt representing the coaches with Pops notably giving his stock camera look and simple one-word response.
The 5 dumbest questions in @NBA journalism history... #Kimmel #GameNight #NBAFinals @IamGuillermo pic.twitter.com/UGkfeuxEga
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) June 8, 2019
The players on the receiving end of the ‘dumb questions’ were Stephen Curry, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and OKC Thunder star Russell Westbrook. Although Westbrook’s response to his dumb question arguably steals the show along with Pops.
Enjoy your Tuesday and make sure to check in with T.I. as the writing team ups the ante on our NBA Draft Prospect Series.