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Scott Brooks will become the lead assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers under Head Coach Chauncey Billups. Brooks, 55, has been a head coach with the Washington Wizards and Oklahoma City Thunder, leading his own locker room for 12 of the last 13 years. He has also served as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweeted the news, calling Brooks a “significant addition” to Billups’ staff.
Former Wizards coach Scott Brooks is finalizing a deal with Portland to become Chauncey Billups’ top assistant coach, sources tell ESPN. That’s a significant addition for Billups as he builds his new staff.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 9, 2021
Brooks has compiled a 532-414 record in his dozen seasons as a head coach, a .557 winning percentage. He is 49-48 overall in the post-season, leading the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2011-12 where his team, featuring Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, lost to the Miami Heat.
Brooks most recently served with the Wizards, where earned a 183-207 record (.469) over five seasons. Washington went 34-38 this past year, leading to Brooks’ dismissal.
Having an experienced head coach next to Billups is considered advantageous because Billups has no head coaching experience and only one year as an assistant.
Brooks played in the NBA between 1988 and 1998, with career averages of 4.9 points and 2.4 assists in 13.6 minutes per game in 680 appearances.