Billy Donovan nearly made the jump to the NBA eight years ago before changing his mind and returning to Florida, but now it sounds like he is ready to give it a serious go in the association.
ESPN’s Marc Stein reported Thursday that there is a growing sense among NBA executives that Donovan wants to make the jump to the NBA. People reportedly feel like Donovan is prepared to leave Florida if the “right” NBA job arises.
Donovan, 49, has been the head coach at Florida since 1996. He has led the Gators to four Final Fours and won back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007. After the second title, he accepted the head coaching job with the Orlando Magic, but he quickly decided he wanted to return to Florida. They let him out of his contract but he agreed to a five-year non-compete clause, which meant he couldn’t take an NBA job for five seasons. That allowed Donovan plenty of time to focus solely on his Florida job.
Following a disappointing 16-17 season, it sounds like Donovan is ready to explore the pro game again. Rick Pitino, for whom Donovan played at Kentucky, said on the radio that Donovan is interested in making the jump.
“I don’t recommend it for college coaches to do that unless they know what it’s all about,” Pitino told “Mike & Mike” on ESPN Radio. “I take someone like Billy Donovan. I think Billy has looked at it, I think he has an urge to coach in the NBA — a strong desire to coach in the NBA — and would like to try it, very similar to Brad Stevens, who is doing a wonderful job with the Celtics. I think people like that with that type of personality will do very well.”
Donovan has gone 467-186 at Florida and has somewhat quietly built one of the best programs in the country. He is among the top five college coaches in the country, and given his playing career and experience putting players in the pro game, he would probably be successful in the league. Now it sounds like it’s just a matter of him finding the right job. And with Auburn hiring Bruce Pearl last year, Tennessee bringing in Rick Barnes, Ben Howland now at Mississippi State, and John Calipari dominating at Kentucky, it might not be a bad time for him to get out of the SEC.
