Kendrick Perkins chatted on ESPN.com today and while most of the questions he got hit with were pretty watered down — I can’t believe they didn’t let through a bar fight question! — he talked some about the Thunder’s chances of winning big, whether he’s going overseas or not and how he’s feeling.
The most notable answer and the reason for the headline: Perk on the Thunder winning it all:
I think we’re really close to winning the championship. We just lacked a little experience this year. We’re very close. We just have to stay home and keep on with the hard work. The sky is the limit. We have a big scorer in Kevin Durant. We have an all-star in Russell. As long as guys keep working and staying together, we’ll be good.
ESPN Rank had Perk check in at No. 95. So Perk was asked to rank himself: Read more…
Chris Bernucca of Sheridan Hoops on OKC and the amnesty: “They have no unrestricted free agents and a future payroll that has room to pay Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. They also have the childish Nate Robinson ($4.5M), who may have value at the trading deadline.”
When we all talk about Kevin Durant, a lot of time we try and put something in perspective by saying, “And he’s just [insert current age].” Why? Because it’s kind of insane what he’s done and how good he is at such a young age.
Durant has played four NBA seasons and entered the league as just a 18-year-old. As a 19-year-old rookie, he averaged 20.3 points a game. As a 20-year-old sophomore, he put up 25.3 points a game. In his third year at 21 years old, he broke out averaging 30.1 points a game. And last season at the old age of 22, Durant put up 27.7 points a night. He’s one of the fastest ever to 8,000 points and has his name firmly planted on a whole lot of “youngest ever to blank” lists.
At 21, he became the youngest scoring champion in NBA history and by winning that same title last year, became the youngest two-time winner in history. He’s been elected to two All-Star teams, made two first-team All-NBA squads, won a rookie of the year, finished runner-up for MVP and has been to the postseason twice and the Western Finals once. He won a gold medal in Turkey in the World Championships, was named MVP of the tournament and is a two-time HORSE winner (OK, so that’s not impressive).
A big happy birthday to KD who turns 23 today. For your birthday KD, I’m trying to get you an NBA season. I don’t know if it’s going to happen, but I asked Papa Stern real nice like.
Daequan Cook really wants to stay in OKC: “I’ve always loved this city, the fan base and all their support of the players. … “No matter what happens, I’m attached to Oklahoma. Oklahoma is great for me.” Read more…
By all appearances, there’s reason for optimism on the NBA lockout front. Owners are hedging a bit on their demand for a hard cap, players are pulling back on the BRI split. And best of all? They’re talking. A lot. Two meetings already this week with another Friday and potentially more over the weekend.
And as you see, some heavy hitters are making the trip for Friday’s meeting. Big name players as well as somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 owners. It’s a big, big day in terms of NBA negotiations. If you’re on the side of optimism, you might see it as a chance to push ahead to a deal. If you not, then you might see it as the league and players doing their best to save face with fans by giving the appearance of trying to strike a deal.
On Grantland, Bill Simmons and Jonathan Abrams look at who each team could use with an amnesty clause. Here’s OKC: Abrams: No one. If they need to save money, they could free themselves of Thabo Sefolasha’s contract ($11.6 million through 2014) and hand the two-guard spot completely over to James Harden. Simmons: Sam Presti is a better man than me. I’d be holding press conferences and saying things like, “Really? Otis Smith overpays Rashard Lewis by $50 million, then makes it worse by trading him for Arenas … and we’re throwing him a freaking life jacket? Really? REALLY?????? You know who I’m using my amnesty on? ROYAL IVEY! HE MAKES 10 F*CKING DOLLARS AN HOUR! YOU GUYS SUCK! F*CK YOU!!!!!!!!!!”
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com: “What is there to think about? That is the $1.9 billion question. At last check, that’s how far apart the two sides appeared to be on the economics as they prepared to tread on the hallowed ground of system issues — the hard salary cap vs. the existing system with a plethora of exceptions and a luxury tax. Sources have told CBSSports.com that both sides have signaled a willingness to negotiate system issues, with one person connected to the talks saying that a deal is “there for the taking.” Asked whether Tuesday’s session was dedicated to the economic split or the system, Fisher and Stern said they discussed both.” Read more…
I really look forward to NBA 2K12′s ratings every year because it’s kind of the only way to get an actual list with actual numerical values to rank every NBA player. We can all put up our top 100 lists or whatever, but NBA 2K12 actually gives you numbers.
Durant’s the sixth best player in the game with Westbrook coming in as the 10th. When it gets put that way, the ratings don’t seem low at all. Ahead of KD is LeBron James (98), Dwyane Wade (96), Kobe Bryant (94), Dwight Howard (93) and Chris Paul (93). I can’t really argue too much with that. Read more…
Darnell Mayberry on KD’s dust-up with OU fans: “My advice is to let Durant do what he does. He plays his heart out for the Thunder and that should be all that matters. As for the rivalry, and Durant’s needling, just wait for that special weekend in October. Wait until the Sooners smack the Longhorns so good Durant doesn’t want to leave the house. Then let him hear about it. That’s how you handle it. Should Kevin Durant be able to diss OU?”
Kurt Helin of PBT on the Thunder selling out their tickets already: “The sell out says something about that city’s commitment to the team, although you can wonder what would happen if the Thunder were not one of the NBA’s up-and-coming teams, a title contender with a huge star in Kevin Durant. This is not a big market to draw from, it’s something to wath should this team ever struggle for a few years. But for now, people want to see the Thunder. And Durant. The other teams to sell out season seats? The Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and Knicks. In keeping with Miami in-game traditions, Heat fans will show up and sell out games after the first quarter of the season.” Read more…
It started with a simple tweet from Kevin Durant. “LSU > OU……” is what it said. And then KD tweeted to someone that responded to that, “its cool u jus mad cuz the sooners suck ahaha.” Then Sooner safety Tony Jefferson responded: “Kevin durant. Please stop talking trash about the sooners.. You play in Oklahoma. Regardless if you went to Texas. We support u #jerk.” Then he put a sad face.
KD backed off it later tweeting, “Ok I’m sorry for “dissing” OU..I do live n oklahoma so ima just keep my mouth shut on that…I love yall in OK..hope yall love me back” but the damage was already done. (He also tweeted later at Jefferson, “No hard feelings..its a rivalry..if I went any other school I would love OU.”)
I hate that I’m even writing about this because it reeks of Nick Collison vs. Unnamed Radio Host. It’s a non-story. Something we shouldn’t at all care about. And as I say that, I’m about to write 800 words on it. I know, I hate myself for it too. I even sent myself an email telling myself what a moron I am. Read more…
KD to SI.com on hesitating to make a movie: “Yeah I did, because I always told myself that this is not the type of stuff I really do. But after I thought about it, it just told me to step outside the box and see where it takes me, and I’m really enjoying it. The weeks leading up to it, I was like, ‘Man, this is going to be one of the worst weeks of my summer,’ but I’m having one of the funnest times of my whole summer doing it too. I’m glad I decided to do it.”
Nick Collison on the current labor talks: “I can kind of see the writing on the wall. These guys (owners) are going to try to make us bleed a little to try and get what they want. That’s their game plan, because clearly they haven’t tried to negotiate. That’s kind of our stand. We try to meet in the middle somewhere, but I think they’re a little more interested in trying to break us and force a deal down our throat.” Read more…
You may not have heard, but there has been a lot of talk about Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Not just in the sense that they’re both incredible individual talents that can do amazing things on a basketball court. But in the sense that some think there’s a chemistry issue there. That Westbrook is trying to assert himself as the team’s alpha and take the big shots and big moments from Durant.
Not really true at all, but that’s at least the perception. And despite repeated statements from Durant — and Westbrook — that that’s not at all the case, every time the issue comes up, we all listen real close.
And wouldn’t you know it, it came up again. Durant had some serious media availability over the weekend as his movie Switch started principal photography. Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports was one of many that talked to him and Durant was asked about his relationship with Westbrook. Read more…
Morning Thunderers. Thank you for your support of DT. Shine on.
A little bonus clip from KD’s newest episode of 35th Hour. One thing you need to take from it. KD says, “My goal is to be one of the greatest to ever play the game.” Well on your way, young man.
Sports Illustrated gave us two great lists today: 20 things they’d miss about an NBA season and 20 things they wouldn’t. When it comes to the Thunder though, there’s a lot to miss. Oklahoma City has only had this team for three seasons but picturing a year without them isn’t easy. No Kevin Durant jumpers? No bland press conferences from Scott Brooks and Sam Presti? No stupid technicals from Russell Westbrook? It’s already painful.
There are millions of reasons (literally, meaning money) to have an NBA season but for a city completely banana sandwich crazy about its team, it’s deeper than that. Normally around this time, right before camp starts, I’d give you reasons to get excited about this season. But there’s a chance we might not have one. Instead, here are 35 things I’d really miss.
1. Good basketball. Pre-Thunder, Oklahoma was fine with college hoops. We were fine with whatever the Sooners and Cowboys gave us. In fact, most of us swore that the college game was better because of the student sections, pageantry, atmosphere, passion and bragging rights involved. Read more…
Kevin Durant’s second episode of “35th Hour” is out and besides showing how hard he goes at it in the gym, how hard he goes at it shopping in the mall and how hard he goes at it bowling with friends, we get to see some really cool behind-the-scenes stuff from the legendary Melo-Goodman showdown. That’s where Durant and LeBron James went head-to-head and Durant came out with 55 points though LeBron came out with the victory.
Durant said of the game, “I’ve got so much respect for LeBron. I think he’s probably the best player in the league. Him and Kobe are kind of neck and neck for the best player in the league. It’s my opportunity to get better so I had to take advantage of it.”
(The little reuninon with Uncle Jeff will bring a tear to your eye.)
The title of the episode is “Hard work beats talent.” Which could be seen as a minor dig at LeBron since KD put on a show against him, but really, it’s just Durant’s favorite saying. He said it the night he was drafted and he says it often otherwise. And there’s no doubt — while KD’s got the talent, he definitely works hard.
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com: “Following a series of small compromises by both sides, it was the owners’ turn to move the needle in a significant way. And they did: According to a person briefed on the negotiations, the league put forth a new number on the split of revenues, or basketball-related income, on Thursday, a step that could help propel the talks forward even as the start of training camps were set to be delayed and preseason games canceled — with such gloomy but fully expected and insignificant announcements expected Friday. “It’s moving,” said another person with knowledge of the talks. “Not as fast as some people would want, but it’s moving.” According to one of the people familiar with the bargaining, here is some of what transpired Thursday: After signaling last week that the players’ offer to move lower than the 54.3 percent share of BRI was a starting point that could lead to a deal on economics, league negotiators came back with their own number. Unsurprisingly, the number was lower than what the players had last proposed, though multiple people involved in the talks refused to specify by how much.”
Officially though, some preseason games have been cancelled and training camps postponed. The Thunder loses a game at Utah Oct. 12 and a home game against Charlotte Oct. 14. So far, that is. Read more…
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