Thunder’s Daigneault promoted to head coach

Much of the credit for Mark Daigneault’s quick ascent to NBA head coach goes to the man he is replacing.

The Thunder promoted Daigneault to head coach on Nov. 11, handing the team to the 35-year-old former coach of its G League team. He replaces Billy Donovan, who now is coaching the Bulls.

“The thing Billy did for me here with the Thunder is opened the door to the Thunder to our Blue staff and gave us unprecedented access to the Thunder team, and certainly, those experiences put me in this position to be able to take this position on,” Daigneault said.

DUNCAN STEPS AWAY » Former Spurs superstar Tim Duncan is stepping away from his position as a full-time assistant coach for the team, ESPN reports, confirming a New York Times report.

College basketball

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM RELEASED » The coronavirus pandemic initially clouded Luka Garza’s decision whether to stay at Iowa or leave for the NBA. The uncertainty of the 2020-21 college basketball season and NBA draft made a tough choice even tougher. Once Garza decided to stay i n Iowa City, he was all in. No doubts going forward. Garza was rewarded Nov. 11 by being the lone unanimous selection on The Associated Press preseason A ll-America team, one of many awards the talented big man has received prior to his senior season. Garza was joined on the team by Baylor senior Jared Butler, Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham and Illinois junior Ayo Dosunmu. Seniors Corey Kispert of Gonzaga and Arizona State’s Remy Martin tied for the final spot.

College football

PENN STATE’S BROWN GIVES UP FOOTBALL » Penn State running back Journey Brown says he has a heart condition that is forcing him to give up football. Brown posted Nov. 11 on Twitter that he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes heart muscle to become abnormally thick and can make it more difficult to pump blood.

MLB

STAYING PUT» Met s pitcher Marcus Stroman and San Francisco starter Kevin Gausman accepted $18.9 million qualifying offers Nov. 11, receiving one-year deals to stay with their teams rather than test what they could get in free agency.