April 2015 Oklahoma City Thunder Wiretap

Russell Westbrook Marries Nina Earl

Aug 31, 2015 11:21 AM

Russell Westbrook married Nina Earl on Saturday at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The couple met while they were both at UCLA playing basketball.

Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka, Dorell Wright and James Harden were in attendance.

"They both couldn't be happier and can't wait to spend the rest of their lives together," a source said.

Francesca Bacardi/E!

Tags: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Thunder Signing Talib Zanna On Non-Guaranteed Deal

Aug 28, 2015 4:49 PM

The Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with free agent forward Talib Zanna, league sources told RealGM.

Zanna spent last season with the OKC Blue in the NBA D-League, averaging 13.3 points, 11 rebounds and 60 percent field-goal shooting in 50 games. Zanna joins Dez Wells as training camp invites to the Thunder.

Zanna played for the Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers in the July summer leagues.

A 6-foot-9 big man, Zanna went undrafted out of Pittsburgh in the 2014 NBA draft.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Talib Zanna, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Dez Wells, Thunder Agree To Undrafted Free Agent Deal

Aug 14, 2015 8:02 PM

Undrafted Maryland guard Dez Wells has reached agreement on a free-agent contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, league sources told RealGM.

Wells had a standout career at Maryland, increasing his points and rebounds per game for averages of 15.1 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior. The 6-foot-5 swingman transferred out of Xavier in 2012.

After going unselected in June, Wells committed to the Washington Wizards for the Las Vegas summer league, but had to sit due to a thumb injury.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Dez Wells, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kevin Durant Had Crack In Bone Prior To Surgery

Aug 14, 2015 11:08 AM

Kevin Durant elected to undergo a third surgery on his right foot on March 31st to end his 14-15 season when they found severe damage.

"It had a crack in it," Durant said.   

Durant also confirmed the extensive measures taken in that last surgery to give him the greatest chance to widen the bone and avoid his foot faltering again.

Durant used a controversial bone-graft material that is not FDA approved for use in the foot to promote greater bone growth this time. It mandated a longer recovery time in part because of an additional procedure to protect against overgrowth of bone.

"They stuffed some bone-graft thing in, and they pasted over the top of the area. That healed up in a couple of weeks," Durant said. "But then they stuck something else in there just to smooth it out and make sure it was thick. They did a lot."

It was surprising that Durant suffered a fracture again after he had been healing.

"I got like an extra layer of bone on the side of my foot that they put in there," he said. "That's why it took longer to heal. Keep it firm. I could've gone another route with surgery. That was the longest, and that was the safest."

 

Robert Klapper, a Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon who was not involved in Durant's case, equated the steps taken in Durant's third surgery to "putting a belt on his pants—and suspenders."

Klapper said that after a year of healing, the fifth metatarsal in Durant's right foot should have greater integrity than ever before.

"There is no reason why Kevin Durant should not be like the Lopez twins (Brook and Robin), Pau Gasol, Michael Jordan and many other folks who've had metatarsal fractures and gone back and played and never had a problem again," Klapper said. "The data supports that he should come back stronger and should never have a problem with this again.

"That's the answer that you have to give. But nobody knows for sure."

Kevin Ding/Bleacher Report

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kevin Durant: I'm The Best Player In The World

Aug 13, 2015 11:38 AM

Kevin Durant was at Team USA's practice on Wednesday as he attempts his comeback.

"No disrespect to anyone else, but I feel like I'm the best player in the world," said Durant.

Durant won the NBA MVP in 2014 and struggled with injuring in 14-15.

Vincent Goodwill/Comcast Chicago

Tags: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA

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Durant, Carmelo To Practice With Team USA

Aug 11, 2015 4:55 AM

Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony are scheduled to make their first steps towards their comebacks from injury during the opening day of USA Basketball workouts.

Durant played only 27 games last season because of a fractured foot.

 

Anthony will participate in light, non contact practices.

Durant and Anthony are among the stars who were initially earmarked to report to the three-day minicamp solely to satisfy USAB's mandatory attendance requirement in Vegas to remain eligible for the 2016 Olympic team.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, National

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Thunder To Open Season Schedule Against Spurs

Aug 10, 2015 2:18 PM

The Oklahoma City Thunder will open the 2015-16 season against LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs.

It will mark the second time in four seasons that OKC has opened its season against the Spurs.

The Thunder lost to the Spurs by two in San Antonio to start the 2012-13 season.

Darnell Mayberry/The Oklahoman

Tags: San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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