OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder coach Scott Brooks is well-aware of the accusations coming out of Denver that his team is cocky.
He was not aware Nuggets coach George Karl had mentioned Brooks specifically.
“He’s pretty cocky,” Karl told Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla (Saturday, page 1C). “He’s confident. And his team is confident. At times, when you get by him, you think they might be too cocky.”
Brooks was asked after Saturday’s practice about Karl’s claim.
“That was last week’s news, wasn’t it?” Brooks asked.
Told Karl had named him in particular, Brooks shook his head and said, “You guys know me. . . . Denver, they can do the things that they do. That’s on them. That’s on George. That’s on their staff. I focus on our team and on our guys and I believe in what we do.”
The best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series between the No. 4-seeded Thunder and No. 5-seeded Nuggets begins tonight (7:30 MDT) at Oklahoma City Arena.
The 45-year-old Brooks is a former backup point guard out of UC Irvine who lasted 10 years in the NBA. He is soft-spoken, well-humored, self-effacing and non-controversial.
In a Thunder parking lot crammed with high-dollar cars, Brooks is the guy who drives a Prius.
The word “cocky” doesn’t fit.
“I’ve been called a lot worse, trust me,” Brooks deadpanned. “My mom calls me a lot worse after we lose. You guys know me. You guys make that judgment.”
The 59-year-old Karl became an NBA head coach at age 33 and has 1,036 career victories, including 74 in the playoffs. He has been known to play mind games in the playoffs and likely is doing so again now.
“I don’t think we need to warn our guys,” Brooks said of Karl’s tactics. “That stuff off the court, why worry about that? That has no bearing on this series at all. I don’t get into going back and forth, and I don’t tell our guys because that’s not who they are. We don’t have to address an issue that’s not there.”
Brooks served as an assistant alongside Karl for three seasons in Denver (2003-06).
“I’ve been with George for a few years, and he does his thing his way and he’s very successful,” Brooks said. “I have a lot of respect for him. What he says really has no impact on how I coach my team or how I live my life.
“That doesn’t concern me. Really, guys, this has been going for a few days. I haven’t addressed it one time. Our guys are focused.”
After the last two practices, Thunder centers have held a light-hearted, 3-point shooting contest. Asked why he doesn’t participate, Brooks smiled and said, “They will not invite me into those 3-point contests.”
Why? Because you’re too tough to beat?
“I’m too cocky,” Brooks said, drawing laughter from the reporters.
