Thunder Notebook: Billy Donovan's Introductory Press Conference

The Thunder introduced a new head coach for the first time since 2008 on Friday afternoon at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Billy Donovan addressed the Oklahoma City media in front of his family, including his mom and dad, Thunder leadership, Nick Collison and Kevin Durant.

• Donovan said he didn't know much about the organization before Sam Presti approached him for the job. “The qualities, values, what this culture is about aligns with mine. The organization is bigger than just the game of basketball. The level of quality of people inside the organization will allow me to grow as a person. I hope I can bring value to the team and organization.”
• Donovan said when he took the Orlando job in 2007 he realized there was unfinished business at Florida, that's why he had the change of heart and asked to be released back to Gainesville. This time around he said he knows his job was done there. “For me after 19 years I left my heart and soul in Gainesville,” Donovan said. “There were a lot of deep, long-lasting relationships that were left back there.”
• He said he was excited to coach Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but assured everyone that his focus is on building relationships with the team first and foremost. “There's a process we have to go through collectively as a group. We have to water that soil every day. There's no shortcuts.”
• Kevin Durant mentioned that Donovan hadn't recruited him to Florida on Thursday. At the presser Donovan joked he “didn't think (Durant) was good enough.” Then he admitted it was because he didn't think he had a chance to sway Durant to Gainesville.”
• On the topic of playing style, Donovan said what everyone has been wanting to hear. “I've always been a ball movement, player movement and extra pass kind of guy. Playing fast, moving and playing into a flow on offense. Being unselfish. Not just Kevin and Russell but all of them.”
• The decision was made up in Donovan's mind on Thursday morning. “I woke up on Thursday and felt really good about the decision.”
• Donovan said he and Presti would sit down and try to hire a really good staff of assistant coaches. He echoed Presti by saying they'd look for “people that fit the culture” in the organization.
• Oklahoma's Lon Kruger – who preceded Donovan at Florida – and Oklahoma State's Travis Ford – who played for Donovan at Kentucky – were in attendance for the press conference.