Kate Upton, Kevin Durant & James Harden
You might remember teenage supermodel Kate Upton attending a Thunder game a few weeks back and participating in a photo shoot with Kevin Durant and James Harden a day later.
Well, now a video of the trio has hit the internet as part of a “Take a Supermodel to Work” series.
Enjoy.
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Russell Westbrook Throws It Down
(Via: Outside the NBA)
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Video Tour Of The Thunder’s New Practice Facility
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Nick Collison On Highly Questionable
The other day, Nick Collison appeared on the ESPN2 show Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable and provided a great segment.
You clearly can see why I’ve said in the past that Collison is the best interview/quote on the team. He talks about taking charges, the Blake Griffin dunk on Perk, the most basketball has ever hurt him emotionally and how he plans on protecting his daughter’s innocence…with guns!
Enjoy.
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Durant’s ‘Weathermans’ On The Weather Channel
Pretty crazy that Kevin Durant’s newest colorway of his signature KD IV made The Weather Channel. (Via The Basketball Jones)
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Russell Westbrook Styling In GQ
Sometimes I don’t think dunk. It happens so quickly, I don’t know what’s happened.” — Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook sure cleans up nice.
Wait, can I say that? Is that against somebody’s man code or something?
Anyway, for a photo shoot with GQ the Thunder point guard recently got all dolled up like he was going to the city. He took part in the piece with fellow high-fliers Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala, Javale McGee and Shannon Brown. GQ contributor Bethlehem Shoals writes a short accompanying piece arguing that we’re in the middle of a dunk renaissance.
Griffin and Westbrook are opposite extremes with one thing in common: A decade ago, players like them weren’t getting up like this. Big men now bring some of the most acrobatic moves, and a team’s playmaker can serve up a ruthless facial. It used to be, everyone wanted to be like Mike. Today the dunk is whatever anyone can make of it—which is why it’s been reborn.”
Pictured above in a navy Prada suit with designer gear down to his socks, Westbrook, with the help of GQ, illustrates how to spice up a conservative color. According to GQ: “Nothing’s more conservative than navy, but you don’t have to look stiff. Add some razzle-dazzle with a colorful tie and socks.”
Is there a better look for Westbrook. I mean, it flawlessly embodies him as a player. Competing for a franchise that can at times be considered bland, Westbrook is a breath of fresh air. We’ve all witnessed how his athleticism, at any moment, can turn a routine play into a spectacular one (see below). For that, GQ absolutely nailed it by getting Westbrook involved in this piece.
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Video: Kevin Durant Answering Questions
Jeff Goodman from CBS Sports caught up with Kevin Durant recently and picked his brain about a variety of topics. Durant is speaking in his customary soft tone, so you’ve got to really pump up the volume to hear him.
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David Stern Responds To Rejected Proposal
The commish spits hot fire. Take a listen.
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Kevin Durant Working Out With LeBron James
It’s not often you get to see a behind the scenes look at two of the greatest basketball players in the world working out together. But LeBron James has released a video of a private workout with Kevin Durant that was held on the campus of the University of Akron. For six good minutes, you can see what a typical workout might be like for the two superstars as they are put through a series of strength and conditioning drills in the weight room and on the football field, as well as ball-handling and shooting drills on the basketball court. Enjoy.
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Kendrick Perkins Like You’ve Never Seen Him
Kendrick Perkins vowed to come back in better shape.
This off-season, the Thunder’s center was completely committing himself to that cause. He wanted to wash out the taste of a season he deemed a personal disappointment from his mouth. He challenged himself to lose 20 pounds over the break and come back at 265.
Judging by the video below, Perkins looks better than ever. Take a look for yourself.
You can see Perk’s arms look trim and defined, his waist and midsection look to be as slim as ever and, perhaps most importantly, his agility and explosiveness looks to have returned. If that’s all true, look out. The Thunder could be an even bigger problem next season than people think.
Perkins’ resurgence could be the single most important factor in the Thunder’s success next season. If he’s healthy, OKC has a dominant low post defender who makes everything easier for everyone else defensively. His presence can alter a game defensively because of his ability to clog the paint and cut off high-percentage attempts.
And if the exercises seen in the video have been Perk’s routine, he clearly is dedicated to getting back to form and beyond. Although for some reason I couldn’t help but think of Cliff Huxtable while watching Perk do his treadmill work. At any rate, Perk is definitely someone to keep an eye on whenever this lockout ends.
Also, be sure to read Perk’s interview with Crave Online. I’ve never heard of Crave Online, but apparently they scored an interview somehow with the big man. There’s nothing great in it, but Perk has done very few interviews this off-season so getting his take on topics is definitely a change of pace. In the Q&A, Perk talks mostly about the lockout and weighs in on Bryant Gumbel’s remarks about NBA commissioner David Stern.
Bryant Gumbel is a respected reporter, and he spoke his mind. I don’t think anybody should be upset about it. Just because that’s his point of view, it doesn’t mean it’s true or that every player feels that way. It’s his opinion, and nobody told him to say it.”
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