Embracing after the final buzzer, Mark Daigneault got the best of Billy Donovan for perhaps the last time ever when both head coaches square off against each other. Just your latest reminder that the Padawan has surpassed his Jedi.

The Oklahoma City Thunder utilized a 22-0 run to pull away late in their 131-113 win over the Chicago Bulls. It took a little longer than usual to get there, but they grabbed one of their last gimme games of the year.

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Both teams are on opposite sides of the NBA highway. The Thunder hope to go back-to-back as the reigning NBA champions. Meanwhile, the Bulls are about to hit the reset button. The only guys safe on their roster are Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.

Returning to his old NBA job, Donovan saw the Bulls get officially eliminated from the postseason. And considering his recent comments about not fully denying his interest in returning to college ball, feels the writing is on the wall that his time in the league will soon end.

Before the game, Daigneault talked about Donovan and his time with him. Of course, it’s well documented how much the Hall-of-Fame coach helped him get his start. He was part of his Florida staff from 2010-14. He eventually became an OKC assistant in Donovan’s last season there.

“I mean him as a man. I can’t say enough about him. He’s great. Comes from a great family. They’re incredible people,” Daigneault said. “When I was in Gainesville, I don’t think there was a holiday that I wasn’t at their house. The best way I could describe their family is that their doors are always open to everybody — even if you go over there for something unrelated.”

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Whispers of Donovan going back to college have grown loud. The rumor mill has suggested he could be primed to take North Carolina’s open position. The Tar Heels recently fired Hubert Davis. Of all the candidates, Donovan has the heaviest resume.

While Donovan has had modest NBA success, he’s a college basketball legend. He won back-to-back national titles at Florida in 2006-07. As the Bulls have been stuck in mediocrity, he’s always one of the biggest fish out there that folks want to get. This time, there’s some steam behind it.

“The support he’s shown me through every single stage of my career — from when I first was with him in Florida to when I was with him a little longer at Florida, to working together with him here, and then since becoming the head coach here and going to Chicago — his relationship with me has never changed,” Daigneault said. “He’s always been incredibly supportive and really been in my corner no matter what, and that’s the highest compliment as a man.”

We’ll see how things turn out. But there’s no denying Daigneault’s affinity for Donovan. When he was announced among the list of Hall of Fame candidates, he had no problem vouching for his old boss and why it was a slam dunk for him to join the prestigious club.

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“Coaching with him, against him, he’s a great coach. His career speaks for itself,” Daigneault said. “You definitely feel that when you’re with him every day, and you definitely feel that when you push against them.”

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: In possible last chess match, OKC Thunder show Billy Donovan love