List of Oklahoma City Thunder head coaches

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The Oklahoma City Thunder plays at the Paycom Center, since 2008. Paycom Center, Oklahoma City (Sep. 2021).jpg
The Oklahoma City Thunder plays at the Paycom Center, since 2008.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is an American professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It plays in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was known as the Seattle SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008. The team plays its home games at the Paycom Center. [1] The Thunder is owned by Professional Basketball Club LLC with Sam Presti as its general manager. The team was formed in 1967. After spending 41 seasons in Seattle, Washington, the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City. Owner Clay Bennett, who purchased the team in 2006, sought to get public funding for a new arena in Seattle, or a major renovation of the KeyArena in 2007. After failing to do so, he decided to move the team to Oklahoma City. [2] Seattle sued Bennett's group to enforce the lease that required the team to stay until 2010. The two sides reached a $45 million settlement to pay off the team's lease with KeyArena in July 2008. [3] [4]

Contents

There have been 16  head coaches for the Thunder franchise. The franchise won its only NBA championship in the 1979 NBA Finals while coached by Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens is the only member of the franchise to have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. [5] He is also the franchise's all-time leader in regular-season games coached, regular-season games won, playoff games coached, and playoff games won. Wilkens, Paul Westphal, Nate McMillan and Bob Weiss formerly played for the team in Seattle. [6] [7] [8] Former head coach Scott Brooks is the only coach to have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award with the franchise. [9]

Key

GCGames coached
WWins
LLosses
Win% Winning percentage
#Number of coaches
*Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the SuperSonics/Thunder
†Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

Coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2023–24 season.

#NameTermGCWLWin%GCWLWin%AchievementsReference
Regular seasonPlayoffs
Seattle SuperSonics
Al Bianchi 1967–1969 16453111.323000– [10]
Lenny Wilkens † 1969–1972 (as player-coach)246121125.492000–One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history [11] [5]
Tom Nissalke 1972 451332.289000– [12]
Bucky Buckwalter 1973 371324.351000– [13]
Bill Russell † 1973–1977 328162166.4941569.400 [14]
Bob Hopkins * 1977 22517.227000– [15]
Lenny Wilkens † 1977–1985 634357277.563693732.5361 NBA championship (1979)
One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history [11] 		[5]
Bernie Bickerstaff 1985–1990 410202208.493271215.444 [16]
K. C. Jones 1990–1991 1185959.500523.400 [17]
Bob Kloppenburg 1991 422.500000– [18]
George Karl † 1991–1998 534384150.719804040.500 [19]
Paul Westphal 1998–2000 1477671.517523.400 [20]
Nate McMillan 2000–2005 395212183.5371688.500 [21]
Bob Weiss 2005 301317.433000– [22]
Bob Hill 2006–2007 1345381.396000– [23]
P. J. Carlesimo 2007–2008 822062.244000– [24]
Oklahoma City Thunder
P. J. Carlesimo 2008 13112.077000– [24]
Scott Brooks 2008–2015 545338207.620733934.534 2009–10 NBA Coach of the Year [9] [25]
Billy Donovan 2015–2020 400243157.608411823.439 [26]
Mark Daigneault 2020–present236143175.4501064.600 2023-24 NBA Coach of the Year

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Wilkens</span> American basketball player and coach

Leonard Randolph Wilkens is an American former basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has been inducted three times into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first in 1989 as a player, as a coach in 1998, and in 2010 as part of the 1992 United States Olympic "Dream Team" for which he was an assistant coach. In 1996, Wilkens was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, and in 2021 he was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. In addition, in 2022 he was also named to the list of the 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History, being the only person to be in both NBA 75th season celebration list as player and coach. He is also a 2006 inductee into the College Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Collison</span> American basketball player (born 1980)

Nicholas John Collison is an American former professional basketball player who is a special assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent his entire career with the Seattle SuperSonics, later renamed the Thunder in 2008. Collison was drafted by the SuperSonics in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft and retired as a member of the Thunder in 2018. As a college player, he went to two Final Fours as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nate McMillan</span> American NBA basketball coach and former player

Nathaniel McMillan is an American basketball coach and former player who serves as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He coached the Seattle SuperSonics from 2000 to 2005, the Portland Trail Blazers from 2005 to 2012, and the Indiana Pacers from 2016 to 2020. Nate served as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, before becoming the head coach from 2021-2023. He spent his entire 12-year NBA playing career with the SuperSonics, then served as an assistant coach for one-and-a-half years and as head coach for almost five years. His long tenure as a player and coach in Seattle earned him the nickname "Mr. Sonic".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Brooks</span> American basketball player and coach

Scott William Brooks is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the top assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a player, he won an NBA championship with the Houston Rockets in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Thorn</span> American basketball player (born 1941)

Rodney King Thorn is an American basketball executive and a former professional player and coach, Olympic Committee Chairman, with a career spanning over 50 years. In 2018, Thorn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Fred Brown, nicknamed "Downtown Freddie Brown", is an American former professional basketball player. A 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) guard from the University of Iowa, he played 13 seasons (1971–1984) in the NBA, all with the Seattle SuperSonics. Known for his accurate outside shooting, Brown was selected to the 1976 NBA All-Star Game and scored 14,018 points in his career.

Samuel Presti is an American basketball executive who is currently the executive vice president and general manager for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has held the position since 2007 when he was hired at 29 years old, making him the second-youngest person to ever hold the position in the NBA. Since 2007, he stands as the third-most tenured head of basketball operations in the league.

The 2007–08 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 41st and final season of the Seattle SuperSonics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the franchise's final season of play in Seattle before relocating to Oklahoma City to play as the Thunder. With the hiring of new head coach P. J. Carlesimo as replacement of Bob Hill, who was fired at the end of the previous season, the SuperSonics finished in 15th and last place in the Western Conference with a franchise worst 20–62 record. Seattle's first round draft pick and number two overall Kevin Durant was chosen as the Rookie of the Year at the end of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle SuperSonics</span> American professional basketball team, 1967–2008

The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Western Division (1967–1970), and later as a member of the Western Conference's Pacific (1970–2004) and Northwest (2004–2008) divisions. After the 2007–08 season ended, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, where they now play as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Oklahoma City Thunder played its inaugural season in the 2008–09 NBA season. It was the team's 1st season in Oklahoma City since the Seattle SuperSonics relocation was approved by league owners prior to settling a lawsuit. The team played at the Ford Center.

The 1967 NBA expansion draft was the third expansion draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 1, 1967, so that the newly founded San Diego Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics could acquire players for the upcoming 1967–68 season. Seattle and San Diego had been awarded the expansion teams on December 20, 1966, and January 11, 1967, respectively. The Rockets moved to Houston, Texas, in 1971 and are currently known as the Houston Rockets. The SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City, in 2008 and are currently known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. In an NBA expansion draft, new NBA teams are allowed to acquire players from the previously established teams in the league. Not all players on a given team are available during an expansion draft, since each team can protect a certain number of players from being selected. The Rockets and the Sonics selected fifteen unprotected players each, while the ten other NBA teams lost three players each.

Clayton Ike Bennett is an American businessman and chairman of the Professional Basketball Club LLC, the ownership group of the Oklahoma City Thunder, an NBA franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics. Bennett is the chairman of Oklahoma City-based Dorchester Capital Corporation, as well as the chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Oklahoma Heritage Association and served as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma from 2011–2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oklahoma City Thunder</span> National Basketball Association team in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Paycom Center.

Professional Basketball Club LLC is an investment group headed by Clay Bennett that owns the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Oklahoma City Thunder franchise and the Thunder's NBA G League affiliate Oklahoma City Blue. The group also owned the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)'s Seattle Storm franchise from 2006 to 2008. The PBC then sold the Storm to local Seattle owners, before relocating the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is a professional American basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It plays in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise was the Seattle SuperSonics from 1967 to 2008 until relocated to Oklahoma City. The team plays its home games at the Paycom Center. The Thunder is owned by Professional Basketball Club LLC and coached by Mark Daigneault, with Sam Presti as its General Manager. All records and achievements shown have been accomplished in Oklahoma City.

The 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics season was the 11th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). With a disappointing 5–17 start, the Sonics replaced coach Bob Hopkins with future Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who led the team to a 47–35 finish. In the playoffs, the SuperSonics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in three games in the First Round, then upset the defending NBA champions Portland Trail Blazers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, before finally defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games in the conference finals, making their first trip to the NBA Finals in franchise history, where they lost the series to the Washington Bullets in 7 games.

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ "City Preparing Ford Center For NBA Team". KOCO Oklahoma City. Hearst Television Inc. July 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  2. ↑ Johns, Greg (November 2, 2007). "Bennett says Sonics going to Oklahoma". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2008.
  3. ↑ "SuperSonics, Seattle reach last-minute settlement". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. July 3, 2008. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Sonics, city reach settlement". The Seattle Times. July 2, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2008.
  5. 1 2 3 "Lenny Wilkens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Lenny Wilkens Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 3, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Nate McMillan Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 21, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Bob Weiss Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
  9. 1 2 "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Al Bianchi Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  11. 1 2 "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. National Basketball Association. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Tom Nissalke Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Bucky Buckwalter Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Bill Russell Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Bob Hopkins Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Bernie Bickerstaff Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  17. ↑ "K.C. Jones Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Bob Kloppenburg Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  19. ↑ "George Karl Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  20. ↑ "Paul Westphal Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Nate McMillan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  22. ↑ "Bob Weiss Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 23, 2009. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  23. ↑ "Bob Hill Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  24. 1 2 "P.J. Carlesimo Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  25. ↑ "Scott Brooks Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Billy Donovan Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on December 28, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.

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