Scott Brooks/Photo courtesy of NBA.com

Both Clippers coach Doc Rivers and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich bemoaned the firing Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks on Wednesday. Brooks led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, where they lost to the Miami Heat. He was at the helm for seven years.

OKC just missed making the playoffs this season, but injuries – especially to reigning MVP Kevin Durant – played a role in that.

“I don’t know if saddened is the right word, but he’s a terrific coach, I think we all know that,” Rivers said before his team’s Game 2 of its playoff series against San Antonio. “It’s our business, I guess. I was just surprised. But right when you hear evaluating, from a coaching standpoint you know what that means. It was just too bad. He had a lot of injuries and stuff like that. That’s a tough blow.”

Said Popovich: “It’s sad when a colleague is let go, obviously. We’re all in situations where it’s pretty volatile, ever-changing, that’s for sure. But Scotty Brooks has done a heck of a job. He’s a hard-working, talented coach, good man and he won’t have to wait very long to be a head coach again.”