Updated: Thunder fires Scott Brooks as head coach

Updated: Thunder fires Scott Brooks as head coach
Mark Hancock
Scott Brooks was let go from the Thunder today.

Oklahoma City Thunder officials cut ties with head coach Scott Brooks on Wednesday, ending his seven-season tenure with the team.

The Thunder organization announced the news around noon, stating that the decision was not a reflection of the past season but due to an overall view of the future of the franchise.

“As we all know, this past year, we had unique and challenging circumstances, and as I have conveyed, not many people could have accomplished what Scott and this team were able to. Therefore, it is very important to state that this decision is not a reflection of this past season but rather an assessment of what we feel is necessary at this point in time in order to continually evolve, progress and sustain," said Sam Presti, Thunder executive vice president and general manager, in a media statement. “This is an extremely difficult decision on many levels.”

Brooks became Thunder head coach on April 15, 2009 and earned NBA Coach of the Year for his 2009-10 leadership. Before that, he was interim head coach in '08-'09. Brooks helped the team accumulate a 338-207 (.620) record. He also helped guide the team to the NBA Finals in 2012 and to Western Conference Finals three times, in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Five moments to remember from Scott Brooks' tenure

In its young life as a big league city, Wednesday was a momentous day as the Thunder announced they had fired head coach Scott Brooks after seven seasons.

In a statement confirming the move, general manager Sam Presti acknowledged the team’s injury-plagued season, including the loss of reigning MVP Kevin Durant, but said the decision to fire Brooks was about more than just the win-loss record of the past year.

“It is very important to state that this decision is not a reflection of this past season, but rather an assessment of what we feel is necessary at this point in time in order to continually evolve, progress and sustain,” Presti said.

Brooks’ record leading the Thunder was 338-207, including a Western Conference Championship. But a NBA title remains the ultimate goal for one of the league’s most talented squads that is watching its window shrink each year.

The departure of Brooks gives OKC the chance to renew excitement with a new coach and enter the next season with a fresh-start mentality. It also removes a constant scapegoat for a fanbase that had grown accustomed to viewing the head coach as the missing link, despite his success.

As Thunder Nation says "goodbye" to Brooks, here are five moments from his time in OKC that should leave Thunder fans with some appreciation, even if they are ready for a change.

Brooks blows Kendrick Perkin's mind [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0lzxSo3JI4]

Brooks gets pissed at Houston [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWePga-WvkM]

"Never split up, always stay together" [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps893lAG58I]

'We are going to treat them like they are the champions' [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27sg71i3kXs]

'You guys got it in you' [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1O22oY7izM]

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