Former OKC Thunder coach Billy Donovan named to Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

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Former OKC Thunder head coach Billy Donovan was named to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2025 class on Saturday.

Donovan, who's now the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, spent five seasons with OKC from 2015-20. He's joined in the 2025 class by former Thunder player Carmelo Anthony.

“He deserves it and has earned it,” said OKC head coach Mark Daigneault, who was an assistant under Donovan at Florida from 2010-14. “I think the thing about him that I have the most respect for is who he is outside the lines. He's a pleasure to work for. He gives you a lot of freedom, and he gives you a lot of responsibilities. ... He's a great coach.

"He's had great success over a long period of time, so I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to work with him. I'm very grateful for everything he's done for my career, and I'm very happy for him with this honor."

Donovan won two national championships as the head coach at Florida before he began his NBA coaching career with OKC.

Donovan went 243-157 during his time with the Thunder, and he led it to the playoffs in each of his five seasons. That included a 2016 Western Conference Finals run.

Here's a full list of the 2025 class for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:

More: How did Mark Daigneault and Billy Donovan meet? Unlikely introduction is quite the tale

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2025 class​

• 2008 men's U.S. Olympic basketball team: Also known as the "Redeem Team," the 2008 men's U.S. Olympic basketball team went undefeated in the Beijing Summer Olympics to win gold.
• Carmelo Anthony: Anthony spent 19 seasons in the NBA with six teams, including the OKC Thunder (2017-18). He earned 10 All-Star selections and six All-NBA selections throughout his career.
• Micky Arison: Arison purchased the Miami Heat in 1995 and helped the franchise win three championships (2006, 2012 and 2013).
• Sue Bird: Bird spent her entire 21-year WNBA career with the Seattle Storm. The 13-time All-Star led the franchise to four championships (2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020).
• Danny Crawford: Crawford spent 32 seasons as an NBA official from 1985-2017. He officiated at least one NBA Finals game in 23 consecutive seasons.
• Billy Donovan: Donovan led Florida to two national championships in 2006 and 2007. He began his NBA head coaching career with the OKC Thunder (2015-20) and has been the head coach of the Chicago Bulls since 2020.
• Sylvia Fowles: Fowles spent 15 seasons in the WNBA with two teams: The Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx. She won four Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named the 2017 Most Valuable Player.
• Dwight Howard: Howard spent 18 seasons in the NBA with seven teams. The one-time champion earned eight All-Star selections, eight All-NBA selections and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.
• Maya Moore: Moore spent her entire eight-year WNBA career with the Minnesota Lynx from 2011-18. The four-time champion earned six All-Star selections, seven All-WNBA selections and was named the 2014 Most Valuable Player.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Former Thunder head coach Billy Donovan named to Naismith Hall of Fame

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