With the OKC Thunder entering a rebuilding phase, three head coach candidates with a G-League background could be a natural choice.
With the NBA grappling over when the 2020-21 season will start and what the calendar of events will look like the OKC Thunder have other priorities in mind. At the top of the list is hiring a new head coach to replace the exiting Billy Donovan.
Over the next few days, Thunderous Intentions will dive into various options that Sam Presti could be mulling over. We’ll offer up a comprehensive group of men and a female that could assume the mantle. In each scenario, there are pluses and minuses so the goal is to narrow in on who makes the most sense given the direction the franchise is headed.
3 coaching candidates with G-League background
In the first article of this series, T.I. examines three candidates with G-League head coaching experience. At present, there are five head coaches in the NBA who cut their teeth in the NBA affiliate league. Raptors bench boss Nick Nurse gained recognition in the G-League and spent five years as an assistant in Toronto. In his inaugural season as the top man, he led the Raptors to a championship and followed it up by winning the media voted Coach of the Year.
Jazz head man Quin Snyder is recognized as one of the best at his job with a penchant for acumen on both sides of the hardwood and a strong player development system. Taylor Jenkins shocked the NBA landscape almost getting his youthful Grizzlies into the playoffs in his first season at the helm. Sacramento Kings head coach, Luke Walton began his coaching career with the University of Memphis prior to moving on to the G-League as a player development coach for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
The newest addition to the group is Nate Bjorkgren who was hired as the new Indiana Pacers head coach. Much of the defensive creativity in Toronto was credited to Bjorkgren who is known as one of the most positive voices in the room.