RealGM Basketball Wiretap

Durant Donates $1M To Tornado Relief Efforts

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:27:49 EDT

Kevin Durant has donated $1 million to relief efforts following tornadoes in the Oklahoma City region.

"As the day went on and I saw the footage and the casualties and the houses being blown away, it was tough to see," said Durant. "I call Oklahoma City my home. I go through Moore all the time. It's unfortunate. We're going to come together as a city like we always do and we're going to bounce back."

Durant was in Minneapolis and hopes to return to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

"Just to get to the hospital, see some kids," Durant said. "Something. Just something to give some hope. Playing for the Thunder, we mean so much to the state. So many people support us and I just want to go back and support those people."

The American Red Cross said the gift from The Durant Family Foundation is meant to match other donations and be an incentive for more people to give. The Thunder also announced a $1 million donation, as did the NBA and players' union.

Thunder Aren't Considering Amnesty Clause On Perkins

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:39:05 EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not considering using the amnesty clause on Kendrick Perkins.

"We just haven't considered using the provision. ... We think Perk has a lot of value to our team," Sam Presti said Saturday.

Perkins is set to make about $18 million over the next two seasons.

Thunder May Anticipate 6th Man Role For Reggie Jackson

Sat, 18 May 2013 00:32:05 EDT

After sporadic playing time as a rookie last season, Reggie Jackson emerged as a critical guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the playoffs.

With Russell Westbrook set to return next season, the Thunder might be anticipating a sixth man role for Jackson.

“If that's the number that's called,” Jackson said, “I'm doing my best to just be ready for whatever situation I'm thrown into next year.”

“I'm excited about his future, about what he was able to do during the minutes that he had," Brooks added.

Kendrick Perkins Finishes Playoffs With Worst PER On Record

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:21:32 EDT

Kendrick Perkins finished the 2013 NBA Playoffs with a PER of -0.7, which is the worst on record for a player with 200 or more minutes.

Perkins had 24 turnovers, 24 points, 39 fouls, five blocks and a plus/minus of -40 in the playoffs.

Perkins was acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011 in a trade involving Jeff Green.

Scott Brooks played Perkins 23.3 minutes per game in the Conference Semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies despite clearly being ineffective.

Macklemore Upset Thunder Using His Song

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:43:43 EDT

The Oklahoma Thunder have been using the song "Can't Hold Us", which is performed by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Macklemore is a rapper from Seattle.

"So apparently the OKC blunder are using @macklemore 'Can't hold us' as a song to hype up the crowd in their arena <-OH HELL NO!" wrote Macklemore on his Twitter account.

Detlef Schrempt echoed the same sentiment on Monday.

Russell Westbrook: Thunder 'Have Enough To Get A Ring'

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:41:35 EDT

Russell Westbrook talked to the media on Thursday for the first time since suffering a season-ending torn meniscus in Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder's first round series against the Houston Rockets.

Westbrook, who will be off crutches in the next three to four weeks, believes the Thunder still have enough talent to get past the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round and win a championship.

"We're finding a way to win games," Westbrook said. "The group of guys we have, I think we have enough to get a ring."

The Thunder are tied against the Grizzlies, 1-1, as the series goes to Memphis on Saturday.

Grizzlies Want To Make Durant Work For Everything, Avoid Putting Him On Line

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:48:20 EDT

The Memphis Grizzlies are allowing Kevin Durant to average 35.5 points, 13 rebounds and 7.5 assists over the first two games of their series against the Oklahoma city Thunder.

“We want to (cut off Durant’s supporting cast), but you still can’t let him get 50," said Lionel Hollins. "We want to make him work and take a lot of shots. We don’t want to put him on the free throw line. It takes a lot of energy to be an offensive player, regardless of what people think, especially when you have the ball in your hand the majority of the time. We want to work him on that end and work him on the defensive end. We want to run and make him play the entire game.”

Thunder Confident Perkins Fit For Series Against Grizzlies

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:47:49 EDT

Kendrick Perkins was benched in the second half of the Oklahoma City Thunder's closeout win over the Houston Rockets on Friday, but Scott Brooks is confident that his big man will bounce back in the second round against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“This series was hard for him,” Brooks said of Perkins against the run-and-gun Rockets. “But his commitment to still cheer his teammates in the second half tells you what he's all about."

Perkins will receive plenty of minutes with the Grizzlies being anchored by Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

“Playing Memphis, he's going to get every minute that he deserves," Brooks said.

Durant Dribbled Ball 240 More Times In Game 3 Than Season Average

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:31:09 EDT

Kevin Durant dribbled the ball 377 times in Game 3, about 240 more dribbles than he averaged per game for the season, according to data from SportVU.

Durant played the first game since his rookie season without Russell Westbrook on Saturday.

Durant touched the ball 111 times in the game, almost double his season average.

Russell Westbrook Undergoes Successful Surgery, Out For Playoffs

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:56:22 EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Russell Westbrook underwent successful surgery on Saturday to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee.

Westbrook will miss the remainder of the 2013 NBA playoffs.

“Although we are of course disappointed that Russell will be unable to return to the floor with his teammates this season, the opportunity to repair the meniscus as opposed to remove it was the best possible scenario for Russell's long term health as a player and person,” Sam Presti said in a statement. “Russell's health and well being are obviously our number one priority through this process and today's procedure helped solidify our belief that Russell will have many productive years of basketball in his future.”

Westbrook suffered the right knee injury in Game 2 of the Thunder's first-round series against the Houston Rockets, when Patrick Beverley collided with him as he tried to call a timeout.

Rehab will begin immediately for Westbrook and a timetable for his return will be determined during the offseason.

Beverley Sorry Westbrook Tore Meniscus, Doesn't Apologize For Being Aggressive

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:31:23 EDT

Patrick Beverley is sorry that Russell Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus while going for a steal before a timeout, but he doesn't apologize for being aggressive.

"I want to go against Russell Westbrook again and battle him again," Beverley told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Friday evening. "I didn't try to hurt him, but that play was something I've tried in the past, a play that worked against the Suns earlier in the season – and it's a play that I'm going to continue to try again."

Beverley abruptly left Arkansas before the start of his junior season to play in Ukraine after he confessed to turning in a paper he didn't write.

Beverley became a second round pick in 2009 and was the final cut by the Miami Heat one year later.

Beverley came to the Houston Rockets from Russia in the middle of the 12-13 season.

Russell Westbrook To Undergo Knee Surgery

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:40:35 EDT

Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery on his right knee for a lateral meniscus tear.

No timetable for his return has been announced, but it is considered a minimal tear.

Westbrook suffered the injury in the second quarter of Game 2.

Westbrook had never missed a game in his NBA career.

"Maybe," said one source to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski when asked if Westbrook could return in the playoffs.

Westbrook is "irate," with Beverley, a league source told Wojnarowski.

The Thunder and Westbrook don't want to risk any long-term issues with his knee.

Howard Thinks Ibaka Should Have Been DPOY

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:36:38 EDT

Dwight Howard supported Serge Ibaka for Defensive Player of the Year.

“I think Serge Ibaka, with all the stuff he did this year, I think he should have been the guy to win it this year and last year,” Howard said.

“The stuff he’s done on the defensive end, I thought he was the clear-cut winner, but people saw it other ways.

“He led the league in blocks. That’s what defense is all about.”

Ibaka led the league in blocks per game (3.3) and finished third in block percentage (7.4), behind JaVale McGee (8.4) and Larry Sanders (7.6).

Durant 'Done With Being Second'

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:49:50 EDT

In a quote on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Kevin Durant lamented his runner-up status that he believes has plagued him throughout his basketball career.

"I've been second my whole life," said Durant. "I was the second-best player in high school. I was the second pick in the draft. I've been second in the MVP voting three times. I came in second in The Finals. I'm tired of being second.

"I'm done with it."

Durant presumably will come in second in MVP voting behind LeBron James again this season despite a historical season for himself by all accounts.

Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder also enter the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the Western Conference, but are considered by most to be underdogs should they again face the Miami Heat.

Raptors 'Quickly Rebuffed' Valanciunas For Harden Trade Inquiry From Thunder

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:53:05 EDT

The Oklahoma City Thunder spoke to the Toronto Raptors about a trade centered on James Harden for Jonas Valanciunas.

The Raptors 'quickly rebuffed' the interest from Sam Presti in the trade.

The Thunder eventually traded Harden to the Rockets while also acquiring the Raptors' lottery guaranteed pick.

Valanciunas averaged 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in 23.9 minutes per game during his rookie season.

Brooks Guarantees Durant Won't Score 70 In Final Game To Chase Scoring Title

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:08:40 EDT

Kevin Durant will finish second in per game scoring to Carmelo Anthony unless he scores 70 points in the Oklahoma City Thunder's regular season finale on Wednesday.

“He has no shot,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said, half-jokingly, of Durant. “I guarantee you he won't get it.”

Durant and the rest of the Thunder regulars “are going to play very limited minutes.”

“I give Kevin a lot of credit,” Brooks said, “because maybe 10 games ago, if he was really focused on trying to get it four years in a row, he could have got it easily.”

Durant was attempting to win the scoring title for the fourth straight season, which would allow him to join Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to accomplish the feat.

Kevin Durant Fined $25,000 By NBA For Menacing Gesture

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:53:05 EDT

Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making a "menacing gesture" in the Oklahoma City Thunder's blowout win over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

Durant also has 12 technical fouls this season, tied for third-most in the league.

Record Five Teams Have Had At Least 12-Game Win Streak

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:42:04 EDT

According to Elias Sports, the 2012-13 NBA season is the first in which five different teams have enjoyed win streaks of at least twelve games.

The New York Knicks defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, extending their current run to 12 straight wins.

The Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and Thunder also had streaks of at least 12 wins this season.

LeBron, Durant Named NBA Players Of Month

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:20:41 EDT

The NBA announced Friday that LeBron James and Kevin Durant today have been awarded the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.

James captured his fifth straight Eastern Conference Player of the Month award by helping the Miami Heat to a league-best 17-1 record as the team chased history, winning 27 straight games before falling to the Chicago Bulls 101-97 on March 27. The 27 consecutive victories are the second most in NBA history, trailing only the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (33), while the Heat's 17 wins in a single month established a league record. James averaged 25.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field for the month. He scored at least 20 points 14 times and shot at least 50 percent from the field in 13 contests.

Durant guided the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 12-5 mark in March, averaging 27.6 points (tops in the NBA), 8.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free throw line. On pace to win his fourth consecutive scoring title, Durant scored 20-plus points 16 times and topped the 30-point plateau on seven occasions. Averaging a career-best 4.4 assists, Durant dished out at least five assists seven times. He also recorded two-plus blocks in eight games.

Brewer: 'Unfortunate' Bulls Released Info Of Derrick Rose Being Medically Cleared

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:25:00 EDT

MILWAUKEE – With Derrick Rose working hard to recover from his torn ACL, Ronnie Brewer believes the Chicago Bulls made a mistake by leaking that the 2011 NBA MVP has been medically cleared to return.

“I felt it was unfortunate the [Bulls] released that Derrick was cleared to play,” Brewer told RealGM on Saturday night. “It’s a process and that’s a dramatic injury. If you’re not 110 percent mentally there and you still have thoughts and regrets about the injury, you’re not going to be playing at a high level. Until you can do that, he’s still not cleared in my opinion.”

Rose has made clear he could sit out the entire season after undergoing knee surgery last May, and a major issue he’s dealt with is being fully confident mentally. In Brewer’s mind, the mental facet is just critical as the physical one – no matter if Rose wants to return in a limited part or his old superstar role.

“I think it’s as important mental as it is physical,” Brewer said. “[The injury] happened on a freak play: Him coming down the lane, doing the play he’s done a thousand times. Whenever he’s comfortable doing the things he was used to doing, that’s when he’ll jump out there.”

As far as when Rose will return, Brewer doesn’t think anyone around the Bulls knows, but he was adamant it should come when only his former teammate is ready.

“I don’t think anybody really knows,” Brewer said. “I don’t think the doctors know. I don’t think any of the players know. Whatever it is, I don’t think he should rush back and not be confident to play, because if you’re not playing with confidence then everything goes out the window.”

Wall Believes He's Faster Than Westbrook

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 11:24:26 EDT

John Wall was asked if Russell Westbrook is the fastest player in the NBA.

“No, I'm going to say myself,” Wall said after shooting just 3-for-18 from the field in the Wizards' 103-80 loss to OKC on Wednesday.

Wall couldn’t say for certain that Westbrook was the league's second-fastest player.

“It's tough man,” said Wall. “There's a couple fast guys in this league. He (Westbrook) is up there, Derrick (Rose) is up there, when he's healthy. Mike Conley's pretty quick. There's a couple guys. Ty Lawson's quick. So there's a lot of guys, but I put myself first.”

Kevin Martin Won't 'Have To Chase Money' In Free Agency

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:42:26 EDT

Kevin Martin has thoroughly enjoyed his first season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and has stated repeatedly he believes the organization is a good fit for him moving forward.

In his ninth season, Martin does not believe money will play as big of a factor as in the past when he enters free agency this offseason.

"My perception would be happiness and a good fit basketball-wise," Martin said. "I'm in a situation that after nine years I don't have to chase money. So I think that part goes into a lot of guys' minds when it happens. But for me, I found a new happiness here when I got traded here. It feels like a good fit. But we'll see when it comes around.

"I think that's where it just comes down to, what would you be happy with? And I love being a major piece on a championship-caliber team. I'm enjoying the ride.

Durant's Text Message Helped Thunder Keep Brooks

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 14:51:23 EDT

Preventing Scott Brooks from potentially leaving Oklahoma City for the Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Durant reached out to Brooks to let the coach know how much he means to the Thunder's success.

“During negotiations, it can be stressful at times,” Durant said. “One day it looks like something's going to get done and then the next it might not. So I reached out to him and just told him I loved him and let me know what happens.

“It was like the day before they got something done. I think that day was the toughest.”

Brooks ultimately signed a contract extension with the Thunder.

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