Anthony Grant has left the Oklahoma City Thunder to become head coach of Dayton.

Grant had been an assistant coach for the Thunder and was formerly head coach of Alabama. Grant played for Dayton in the 1980s.

"Anthony Grant is a proven winner with the highest integrity," Dayton athletic director Neil Sullivan said in a statement. "He has successful experience in coaching, recruiting and playing basketball at an elite level. I welcome Anthony to our staff and look forward to partnering with him as we continue to aggressively pursue graduating student-athletes, winning conference championships and advancing in the NCAA tournament. He is absolutely the right coach."

Grant was an assistant coach for Billy Donovan with the Thunder for the past two seasons.

Billy Donovan denied a report that he traveled to Bloomington, Indiana to discuss the Indiana University head coaching vacancy.

Indiana has since hired Archie Miller as head coach to replace Tom Crean.

Justin Albers of AlbersAngle.com reported on Friday, citing sources, that Donovan had been in Bloomington that morning.

“Yesterday morning, I was here in practice,” Donovan said. “I was not there. I was here in practice and actually was in a couple meetings, and then went to Russell (Westbrook's) bowling charity last night.”

Donovan was previously asked about the job when it became available in mid-March.

“I love it here,” Donovan said at the time. “I love the guys I work with every day. I love our staff, the organization. As far as I’m concerned, my commitment is totally here and doing the best job I can while I’m here.”

Donovan is in his second season as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder after leaving the University of Florida.

Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry disputed a report that the Golden State Warriors were frustrated with how the Oklahoma City Thunder organization handled the return of Kevin Durant last month.

"I don't agree," Kerr said. "[Thunder GM] Sam Presti's a friend of mine. I know [Thunder chairman] Clay Bennett, it's a class organization all the way. So I don't really pay any attention to a story like that unless there's an actual name that's put on, so, I assume it's just sources? Sources? So I don't know who that is. It's nobody with the Warriors. So, we have great respect for the Thunder. Sam's been a friend of mine forever. They're first class, so I don't know where that comes from."

Kerr said "emotional returns or farewells" in the NBA have become "routine" because "guys get traded, they get cut, they sign elsewhere as free agents."

"This league is a very interesting place all the way through. Certain stories that don't need to see the light of day, don't need to have any life kind of breathed into them, are somehow the most popular. It's kind of how it goes," he said. "To me it's kind of comical. Just what can be put on a spotlight during an 82-game year, and at the end of the day we're all just trying to win games and enjoy what we do for a living and that's it."

Curry said he wasn't surprised by the story.

"I actually look forward to waking up and seeing what ridiculousness is posted," he said.

The Golden State Warriors organization was furious and bewildered about the inactivity from Oklahoma City Thunder leadership leading up to Kevin Durant's return contest on Feb. 11.

The Warriors were of the mindset that someone from ownership or management should have addressed the media on Durant's behalf to help ease the tension upon his return.

The Warriors felt Durant should have been acknowledged or thanked in a news conference setting for his time with the Thunder.

The Thunder's silence contributed to the raw emotions, outrage and indignation that created an unsettling, hostile atmosphere, according to the Warriors.

There was no mention from the in-game operations staff about Durant's return.

"When Kevin made the decision to leave and move on from Oklahoma and the Thunder, we responded in a manner that is consistent with how the Thunder tries to conduct itself, and I am incredibly proud of the people across our entire organization and the professionalism they have demonstrated," Thunder general manager Sam Presti told ESPN's Royce Young leading up to the Warriors' first game in Oklahoma City earlier this season. "They have embraced Kevin's past with the Thunder while sensibly and passionately investing in those that stand with us as we continue our work in Oklahoma with an inspired and positive outlook.

"We are fortunate to have people like Russell, Nick, Steven and Billy in place, individuals who care deeply about the Thunder and what it stands for in our community and who are proud of their contributions to date, yet driven and honored to write our next chapter together."

In a straw poll of 106 media members who cover the NBA, James Harden placed first with 910 points ahead of Russell Westbrook with 768.

Harden received 53 first-place votes while Westbrook had 26 first-place votes. Harden finished second in MVP voting in 2015 behind Stephen Curry.

Kawhi Leonard (658) and LeBron James (600) finished third and fourth in the poll.

Isaiah Thomas or John Wall are vying to round out the top-5.

Russell Westbrook is in danger of dropping below 10.0 assists per game as he attempts to record the first triple double for the season in over 50 years.

Westbrook's assists per game have dropped from 10.25 to 10.05 over the past week. Westbrook has 633 assists in 63 games, which means he needs to average 9.8 down the stretch.

Westbrook’s assists totals were four, nine and five on the road trip, which is an average of 6.0 per game. 

Of his top 19 assist totals this season, only one has come since February arrived. Westbrook is averaging 9.14 assists in February and March.

Westbrook is averaging 11.3 assists per game at home compared to 8.9 on the road.

Mark Cuban continues to discount the play of Russell Westbrook.

Cuban said Sunday that the MVP battle is a "toss-up" between Houston's James Harden and Cleveland's LeBron James, with San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard also deserving of mention in the conversation.

Cuban was then asked where Westbrook is in his consideration for MVP.

"He's not," Cuban said.

Cuban acknowledges that Westbrook is "an amazing athlete" who is the "most explosive" player in the league and has the "best motor."

"The criteria hasn't changed," Cuban said. With a wry smile, he added: "And if I changed my mind, it would ruin all the fun for you guys."

Cuban has consistently said in the past that he doesn't consider Westbrook to be one of the NBA's superstars.

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have been named the NBA's Players of the Month for February.

The Cavaliers were 9-1 with James in the lineup as he averaged 25.9 points, 10.6 assists and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double of 33.4 points, 11.0 rebounds and 10.0 assists as the Thunder went 7-4 in February. Westbrook posted six triple-doubles in February.