Daily Thunder.com

Kevin Durant is the face of the team. He’s the star. He’s the recognizable guy.

But one guy on the Thunder has seen his star stock quietly rise over the past eight months or so. It started with a great playoff series against the Lakers in which NBA fans finally got to see Russell Westbrook’s skill, speed and athleticism. And over the summer, it grew more as the entire world got a peek as Westbrook’s ridiculous ability.

Now he’s appearing in commercials, getting his own shoes and today, Westbrook appeared on ESPN’s First Take and talked about his experience in Turkey, his favorite dunk (how could it not be the one over Lamar Odom?) and who the best dunker on the team is. Fun stuff.

Video Russell Westbrook

Shoals on Jeff Green: “The problem is, the Thunder shouldn’t necessarily want to welcome back a revitalized Jeff Green. Even if he somehow takes a leap, and makes a case for himself as relevant beyond the construction of OKC’s system, Presti needs money for Westbrook, and Ibaka — while a more conventional big man — is also an absolute monster-in-training. It’s an awkward position for the organization to be in, and the closeness of the players certainly won’t help it. But Green is not as good as he is — or, once was — important. Even if he does live up to the reputation that he only incidentally helped create, the Thunder don’t necessarily need the services of Jeff Green 2.0. Some team might, but not them. The team’s evolution made him important. Ironically, though, it’s now made him irrelevant, even if Green turns into a superstar overnight.”

Darnell Mayberry on yesterday’s Thunder practice: “In two-plus years of covering the Thunder, I’ve grown to accept that when it comes to media availability for practice there are good days and bad days. Days when we get a good look at worthwhile things like schemes and things and days when we get shutout and see nothing but free throws. Not today. Today was a great day. Let me take it a step further. Today was the best Thunder practice I’ve ever attended. Now, let me be clear. That statement has absolutely no reflection on what kind of practice it was for the team. For the media’s purposes — and therefore the fans’ purposes — Wednesday’s morning session of the second day of two-a-days was an exciting mix of eventful, entertaining and enlightening.” Read more…

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They keep making them and I keep posting them. Russell Westbrook with another strong appearance in a new NBA 2K11 spot, this one comparing the greatest team of all-time, the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls (you know, the group that won 72) against different teams. And then Genghis Khan for some reason.

Video Russell Westbrook

It’s Kevin Durant’s birthday today. So from now on, when you talk about how amazing he is, be sure to add a number and say, “And can you believe he’s just 22?” This is really a reminder for myself more than anything.

KD says success is defined by good practices: “Of course you’re not going to have a great practice every day, but if we have more great practices than we do bad practices I think that’s when we can say we’re having a good year,” Durant said. “Because I think great practices lead up to wins. Great shootarounds lead up to wins. Those are things we can control, and I think if we do that you never know what will happen. Read more…

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AP PHOTO

Well this is the end of our five part look into the things I’d personally like to see happen next season for the Thunder. Much like the previous four installments, this one has been a hot button issue for the fan base and I suspect it will continue to be until the players involved settle the debate organically by how they play.

But without further ado, here is Part V…

I want to see Serge Ibaka emerge as the Thunder’s starting PF.

I know a lot of people are going to see this as a shot at Jeff Green and it’s not. Not at all. The fact of the matter is that I have always and will always continue to believe that Jeff Green has a very important role for this team and the Thunder franchise (and yes, that role is on the court and not some weird KD BFF or “calming presence in the locker room” nonsense. Jeff Green is better than you probably think he is, trust me).

Now obviously I’m not one of the people who want Green dealt or dream up trades where somehow he gets traded for an All-Star caliber PF despite those very same people saying he stinks and somehow equating “stinky player + picks or expiring contracts” = “trading for an All-Star PF.” Fuzzy math is fun, just not very logical. Read more…

Commentary Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka

Who would’ve thought in just three years, the league’s smallest market team would become one of its most reliable money-makers?

Sports Business Journal has a report out that the NBA will begin the season with over $100 million in season ticket revenue. And already, there have been more full season tickets sold than all of last year. There have been over 50,000 full season tickets sold, a 40 percent increase from last year. And who said the Heat were bad for the league?

But one of the teams right in the thick of it? Our own little Thunder:

League officials would not disclose which team ranks the highest in new full-season-ticket sales, but the five teams with the highest number of new full sales are the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic.

The Heat, Bulls and Knicks all benefited from the free agency race for LeBron James that was ultimately won by Miami. The Thunder got a boost from its playoff appearance last season led by Kevin Durant. The Magic’s full-season-sales run is led by the opening of its new arena this fall.

News

John Hollinger forecasts the Thunder: “I’d also project Oklahoma City to fare a bit worse if it makes no changes to the roster. I improved the Thunder’s projection by a few games because they have so many possibilities to improve the roster in-season between young talent, cap space and future draft picks. In the big picture, however, I think this might be a challenging season for the Thunder. Expectations are exponentially higher, but it’s basically the same team as a season ago. For all their young talent, any improvement by the young guys is likely to be offset by a more normal injury pattern. Thus, while the Thunder’s future remains incredibly bright, I think they might need another season under their belt before ascending into the West’s elite.”

Darnell Mayberry’s observations of media day: “Aldrich is a breath of fresh air to the Thunder’s locker room. He likes to joke around, have fun and play pranks. The Thunder has a lot of guys like that but the problem is most of them turn off the switch in front of the cameras and microphones. On Monday, Aldrich borrowed a reporter’s video camera and began filming the tail end of Green’s session for ‘Sony HD TV.’” Read more…

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I just returned from the 89th annual Oklahoma City Thunder media day and boy, what an event. Players talked, reporters asked questions and in the end, we pretty much know everything we already knew before. Doesn’t mean there weren’t a few interesting things of note, like what players were working on this summer, expectations and of course, chair-throwing questions. Here are the things I starred. (The sound’s not great on the videos, I know. But remember, I’m an amateur.):

• I found it interesting that the players came in one-by-one to be greeted by the media. Typically, two or three come in at a time and there are different players in different areas. This time, it was one at a time. And to kick things off was Tweedy Carter, which made for some awkward moments as everyone in the room tried to figure out who that is.

• Scott Brooks was asked extensively about Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant coming off a tougher-than-usual summer. He simply said, “I think they’re fine.” He then added, “If they weren’t playing with Team USA they would’ve been getting after it twice a day somewhere. They’re coming back fresh and excited.”

• Darnell Mayberry asked a really good question to Brooks as he wondered what is tougher to follow up: Taking over a team that was 1-11 or coaching a 50-win team? Brooks: “Well, 1-11 became 1-12 so that was pretty tough.” And then of course the team lost 12 of its first 13 of Brooks. “I thought I might be the first interim-interim coach,” he said.

• When Brooks first came in he joked about not talking about two things: 1) If Russell Westbrook is a better point guard than him and 2) expectations. About the rising expectations, Brooks said, “There’s no doubt we’re a good team. You have to have expectations for yourself. You have to expect things from yourself.” He commented on how expectations rose because of a 27-win improvement last year. “I don’t see a 27-win improvement this year,” he said. Read more…

Commentary

By now, surely you’ve seen some of the stellar NBA 2K11 promos that include Russell Westbrook in them. In a few, Westbrook teams up with Andre Iguodala and Josh Smith. And as part of the promotion of NBA 2K11, the three ad stars went on the Fox Business Channel to talk about the game, how Michael Jordan is on the cover and you know, basketball stuff. Instead, they got ambushed by some tax questions.

They were all good sports and the question was asked more in fun than anything else. I liked Westbrook’s answer: “When you come in and you make the kind of money we make, it’s something you’ve got to roll with … I wasn’t prepared, but now I got to get prepared.”

And props to Andre Iguodala for knowing his stuff. That was impressive.

UPDATE: Clark Matthews explains how the representation by the host of “half” their money going to taxes, is wildly embellished.

Video

Media day is today and I’ll be in attendance and will have some updates this afternoon on the sights and sounds. I’ll post some video, pictures and the most interesting quotes. Be sure to follow Daily Thunder on Twitter as I’ll be posting live stuff while I’m there.

Darnell Mayberry has five questions for training camp: “Is the team ready to handle success and play with pressure? Players, coaches and front office staffers sound confident when asked that very question. They point to the team’s resiliency through its 3-29 start two seasons ago as reason for optimism. But the truth is the Thunder didn’t begin receiving opponents’ best shots until midway through the season last year, after it had already built a head of steam, a 23-18 record and considerable confidence. Now, every team knows about the Thunder. While there is a tremendous amount of talent on the roster, the Thunder’s projected nine-man rotation’s average age will still be just 23.7 years old by the team’s first preseason game. OKC has shown great maturity in several situations. But one thing we have yet to see is how this group responds throughout an entire season of being the hunted.” Read more…

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After the 2008-09 season, the Blazers were the “darlings of the NBA” and the next up and coming, young team; a situation the Thunder find themselves in right now. Neither of these teams have won a playoff round, yet they are being predicted by many to finish in the top 3 in the Western Conference. We talk with Ben Golliver of Blazersedge.com about the Blazer’s upcoming season and how they match up with the Thunder.

We also jump back into “What Up With That” discussing Presti’s press conference, KD’s invitation to text his cell, NBA 2K vs NBA Elite, the proposed Melo trade and much more. Listen, subscribe, and comment.

Episode Breakdown:

• 00:00 – 01:43 : Intro
• 01:43 – 13:37 : What Up With That?
• 13:37 – 28:29 : Ben Golliver Interview
• 29:34 – 33:46 : Closing

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Glenn James/NBAE/Getty Images

Early Saturday afternoon, KD put up a cell phone number on Twitter. It wasn’t a prank. He wasn’t messing with anyone. He simply wanted to text battle some fans.

Reader Matt tried it out and posted the results in the comments:

KD continues to amaze.. He released his phone number on twitter asking us to talk to him about football or just talk if we wanna.. The response was OVERWHELMING and it froze his main phone.. So he then said I have a better idea.. “message me your numbers, and i’ll text YOU from my 2nd phone”

Wondering if he really would, I sent him my cell # on twitter, with a message about his ‘Horns asking how they’re going to do.. and w/in about 3 minutes I check twitter again and he tweeted me “@xxxxxx textin u now”…

BAM… I get a text from a 405 #… “horns gonna win tonight n kick OU’s ass next week lol”… proceeded to respond “Hell yah! I’m an O-state grad so I hope so!” and then he asked how I was today and carried on a text convo with me for about 20 minutes..

I didn’t think my man-love for KD could go any higher (no homo)… But he went above and beyond anything I’ve ever seen before… Holy cow..

I could’ve gone without the OU part, but still, KD continues to amaze. On the court, and off.

Other Kevin Durant, Love You So Much KD

(Morning Thunder lovers. Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. Blah blah blah blah, the season is almost here.)

Want to watch someone paint a picture of Kevin Durant in fastforward? Well then, do I have a video for you! At some NBA Elite 11 promotional thing, an artist paints a nice portrait of KD and I must say, it looks pretty sweet. It’s not quite as good as “The Kramer,” but I’d definitely hang it in my living room in a very prominent and visible place. What’s that, Mrs. DT? No, I won’t? Well then.

Video

Rich Cho, saying things: “Blazers fans are probably 5, 10 times more rabid” than Thunder fans. Hey, I don’t disagree and Cho knows his audience. Play up a fanbases fandom and tell them how loud and wonderful they are and they like you. It’s working here, isn’t it?

A great point from commenter Justin in talking about NBA 2K11′s ratings: “Jeff Green is rated higher than LaMarcus Aldridge, Joakim Noah, Blake Griffin, David West, Carl Landry, Nene, Andrea Bargnani, and Kevin Love. This is why I think he’s going to want mega dollars. Perception…” Read more…

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NBA 2K11 leaked its starting five ratings today and for the Thunder, our boys go like this: Russell Westbrook, 81; Thabo Sefolosha, 66; Kevin Durant, 91; Jeff Green, 77; Nenad Krstic, 59.

Take that in for a second. First off, even before we get to Durant, Krstic a 59? You know who else is rated a 59? JaVale McGee. Darko Milicic is just two behind at a 57. Amir Johnson is a 63 for crying out loud. I’d say Nenad got the short end here. Nenad was rated a 98 in chair throwing though.

But let’s look at where KD fits in. First, the players rated higher than him: LeBron James (97), Dwyane Wade (97), Kobe Bryant (97), Chris Paul (95), Carmelo Anthony (93) and Deron Williams (92). So according to a video game, Durant is the seventh best player in the league. I certainly don’t agree.

Where does Westbrook fit in? Compared to other point guards, Westbrook was behind Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tyreke Evans (depending on what you classify him), Derrick Rose, Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups and Steve Nash. Westbrook was rated higher than Tony Parker, Andre Miller, Stephen Curry, Aaron Brooks and Darren Collison.

While Durant’s 91 isn’t necessarily extremely low, shouldn’t the reigning scoring champ and MVP runner-up maybe have been in the 94-95 range? I don’t disagree with LeBron being higher, but seventh best?

Maybe it’s because Durant is on 2K11′s rivals’ cover in NBA Elite. Maybe it’s just because KD isn’t quite getting the deserved respect yet. Or maybe, it’s just a video game and this actually doesn’t matter at all.

Other Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Video Games