Durant to Harden in Manila
Thunder players Kevin Durant and James Harden teamed up to play in the Philippines this weekend. Here is some of their work from the exhibition.
–Tariq Lee, Staff Writer
Durant, Harden will go head-to-head in East vs. West battle
Thunder All-Star Kevin Durant and guard James Harden will be pitted against one another next month in the first ever Drew League (CA) vs. Goodman League (DC) game August 20 at Coolidge High School in Washington, DC.
But fans don’t worry the game will be streamed online at tip-off 6:30 p.m. EST on the TheBasketballChannel.net
The last time Durant played at Coolidge High School was in high school when his Montrose Christian team played high school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, Durant scored 31 points and Montrose Christian won 74-72.
The game has been in talk for weeks with many NBA players such as Durant and Harden playing in the Drew League this summer.
And with the NBA lockout in full effect this may be the only time this many NBA players joins to play in one venue.
Durant will team up with Washington Wizards guard John Wall, Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson, Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley and Sacramento Kings guard and center Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins.
Harden will head to the east coast with Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, Toronto Raptors guard/forward Demar DeRozan, Washington Wizards center and guard JaVale McGee and Nick Young.
The Drew League roster hasn’t been filled and three players will be added at a later date.
Here are the players that will be featured:
Goodman League:
Kevin Durant (OKC Thunder
John Wall (Washington Wizards)
DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)
Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets)
Gary Neal (San Antonio Spurs)
Michael Beasley (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Josh Selby (Memphis Grizzlies)
Sam Young (Memphis Grizzlies)
Donte Greene (Sacramento Kings)
Hugh “Baby Shaq” Jones (And 1 Mixtape Tour)
Emanuel “Duce” Jones
Warren “D-Nice” Jefferson
Drew League:
James Harden (OKC Thunder)
Nick Young (Washington Wizards)
Demar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors)
JaVale McGee (Washington Wizards)
Craig Smith (LA Clippers)
Eugene Jeter (Sacramento Kings)
Dorell Wright (Golden State Warriors)
Marcus Williams (UNICS Kazan)
Bobby Brown (Aris BC)
–Tariq Lee, Staff Writer
OKC Thunder releases 2011-12 schedule
Here’s Darnell Mayberry’s story on the Thunder’s 2011-12 schedule. The full schedule is below.
NOVEMBER
Tuesday, Nov. 1 @ LA Lakers, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, 02 @ Phoenix, 9:00 p.m.
Friday, 04 vs Indiana, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 05 @ Dallas, 7:30 p.m., NBATV
Tuesday, 08 @ New York, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 10 @ Chicago, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Sunday, 13 vs Toronto, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, 14 @ Charlotte, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 16 vs New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 18 vs Denver, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 20 vs Utah, 6:00 p.m.
Monday, 21 @ San Antonio, 7:30 p.m., NBATV
Wednesday, 23 vs LA Lakers, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
Friday, 25 vs Memphis, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 27 @ LA Clippers, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 30 @ Golden State, 9:30 p.m., NBATV
DECEMBER
Thursday, 01 @ Denver, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Sunday, 04 vs New Orleans, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 06 @ Indiana, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 07 @ Toronto, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, 09 vs Sacramento, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10 @ Houston, 7:00 p.m., NBATV
Monday, 12 vs Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 14 vs Orlando, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Friday, 16 vs San Antonio, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, 18 vs Minnesota, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 21 @ San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, 23 @ Miami, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Monday, 26 @ Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 27 @ Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, 29 vs Dallas, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Saturday, 31 vs Phoenix, 7:00 p.m.
JANUARY
Tuesday, 03 vs Portland, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 06 vs Houston, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 08 vs San Antonio, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 10 @ Memphis, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 @ New Orleans, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 13 vs New York, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 16 @ Boston, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, 18 @ Washington, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, 20 @ Philadelphia, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 21 @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 23 vs Atlanta, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 25 vs Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 27 @ Detroit, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 28 @ Cleveland, 6:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Wednesday, 01 @ Dallas, 6:00 p.m., ESPN
Friday, 03 vs New Orleans, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 06 @ Portland, 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 07 @ Golden State, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, 09 @ Sacramento, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Friday, 10 @ Utah, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday, 14 vs Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 15 @ Houston, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 17 vs Golden State, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 19 vs Denver, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Wednesday, 22 vs Boston, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Tuesday, 28 vs Charlotte, 7:00 p.m.
MARCH
Thursday, 01 @ Orlando, 7:00 p.m., TNT
Friday, 02 @ Atlanta, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Monday, 05 vs Dallas, 7:00 p.m., NBATV
Wednesday, 07 vs Memphis, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 09 vs Cleveland, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 12 @ New Orleans, 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 13 vs Philadelphia, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 16 vs Washington, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 18 vs Utah, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 20 @ Utah, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 21 vs LA Clippers, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 25 vs Miami, 12:00 p.m., NBATV
Tuesday, 27 @ Portland, 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, 29 @ LA Lakers, 9:30 p.m., TNT
APRIL
Sunday, 01 vs Chicago, 12:00 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, 04 vs Golden State, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 06 vs Portland, 7:00 p.m., NBATV
Sunday, 08 vs LA Lakers, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Monday, 09 @ Denver, 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 11 vs LA Clippers, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, 13 vs Sacramento, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, 14 @ Minnesota, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, 16 @ LA Clippers, 9:30 p.m., NBATV
Wednesday, 18 @ Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.
What is Thunder center Cole Aldrich’s ceiling?
Darnell Mayberry wrote about Oklahoma City Thunder rookie center Cole Aldrich in today’s Oklahoman, noting that Aldrich could jump ahead of Nazr Mohammed in the Thunder’s rotation in 2011-2012. Aldrich was limited to 18 games and only 7.9 minutes per game in his rookie season.
In today’s Power Lunch chat, Mayberry was asked about Aldrich’s ceiling:
Tough to say at this point. He’s played in less than 20 games as a pro. I think he’s going to be a good defensive player. But I’d like to see some sort of body of work before I go making crazy predictions. The name Joel Przybilla comes to mind, though.
What do you think? Should Aldrich play ahead of Mohammed next season?
Power Lunch Chat Recap: Darnell Mayberry
Video: Thunder Girls travel to China
Could Russell Westbrook average 10 assists per game next season?
In today’s Power Lunch chat, Darnell Mayberry was asked whether Russell Westbrook could average more than 10 assists per game next season if James Harden started beside him. Here’s Darnell’s answer:
No. The total is more likely to go down, actually. And perhaps it should. Harden is a better playmaker. If he does indeed start next season, he should have the ball in his hands a good amount to make things easy and cut out some of that foolish one-on-one stuff. Russ averaged 8.2 assists last year. With a full year of leeway and a green light to attack, I see that number going down. Besides, only three players averaged 10-plus assists last year: Nash, Rondo and D-Will. CP came 0.2 assists shy. That’s a hard thing to do.
What do you think? Do you agree? Read the rest of Darnell’s chat here.
Power Lunch Chat Recap: Darnell Mayberry
Power Lunch Chat Recap: Darnell Mayberry
Video: Kevin Durant talks about basketball camp, NBA labor situation and more
