ESPN: Thunder, Billy Donovan Begin Formal Talks About Coaching Job

Billy Donovan has been listed among sports analysts as a favorite to replace Scott Brooks as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Donovan is currently the head coach of the University of Florida and has been for 19 years.

Overnight ESPN cited sources that the 49-year-old coach is the first candidate to begin formal talks with the team. Donovan is known to have a close relationship with Thunder general manager Sam Presti. Presti has hired two members of Donovan's staff from Florida within the last year.

News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins talked about the possibility of Billy Donovan coming to Oklahoma City to coach the Thunder.

“If I had to pick a favorite tonight it would be Donovan and there's a lot of reasons to think he could win. Word is players love playing for him. I believe Presti has had one or two guys in mind from the beginning and I think Donovan definitely has been one of them. But he's still a risk,” Blevins said.

According to ESPN, the one thing that could keep Donovan from the job is leaving Florida for Oklahoma City. It is well known Donovan aspires to coach in the NBA.

As for other candidates Presti is planning to sit down with? That's unclear if there are any.