Scott Brooks’ reputation as a coach--fairly or unfairly--has been largely a referendum on his ability to get stars to play together. When Brooks was in Oklahoma City, he had the unique opportunity to coach three future league MVPs at the same time, very early in their careers. He coached Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden to the NBA Finals in 2012, well ahead of when many thought they’d be ready to compete on the league’s biggest stage.
Perhaps they could have gone even farther if the Thunder had stayed healthy, and if they hadn’t traded James Harden to Houston during the offseason.