Kevin Durant misses last-second 3 in Drew League loss
Case in point: Kevin Durants nasty jam in a Los Angeles-based Drew League game, framed by the perfectly executed defense weve come to expect from playground basketball. All it takes is a barely there screen and two dribbles to get Durant from the three-point line to YouTube. But Durants hardly on his own in turning the Drew League into a highlight factory. James Harden , DeMar DeRozan and other NBA players have been regulars at the summer pro-am league, including the incessantly entertaining JaVale McGee: Good fun all around for the Nuggets McGee, who was born to play basketball in so casual a setting.Open space and a never-ending string of fast breaks could do wonders for the game of any gifted athlete, but those conditions are especially helpful in extracting value from McGees gangly sprints up the court.
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook Won’t Become Champions With Ryan Gomes
This is a big day and a big announcement for USA Basketball, program Chairman Jerry Colangelo said. Because two of our players who have been so instrumental in our success in winning gold medals, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love , have officially announced that they will be part of our future going forward, including the World Cup next summer. Durant and Love were both members of the Olympic team that took home the gold medal in 2012, but not all players who participate are guaranteed to do so going forward, especially in the World Championship event that takes place two summers before the next Olympics. LeBron James , for example, isnt expected to participate in 2014, and Colangelo told Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports that he wasnt even going to ask.So, this early announcement of a commitment was an understandably big deal to both Colangelo and head coach MikeKrzyzewski. It means a great deal to us because of how committed they are to our program, Colangelo said. Were very appreciative of their early commitment; we think itll certainly send a message to some of our other guys who have indicated theyre interested. So were very excited. Krzyzewski was especially pleased by the way Durant delivered his commitment, and the respect and dedication he showed to the USA Basketball program in doing so.
A better team, with Harden, couldnt beat the Miami Heat in the 2012 finals, losing in five games; that team nearly lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western semifinals. Last seasons early exit had a lot to do with Russell Westbrook injuring his knee, but something about the Thunder wasnt as convincing as it was the year before, despite the numbers that suggested theyre the second best team in the league. But theres also the positive, which first and foremost bases itself on Durant and Westbrook continuing to improve. Theres not a lot more these two can do, but no NBA team has a tandem of playmakers this good and this dominant. Durant has to win the MVP at some point, and the only think you can think of missing from his game is being better on defense. Serge Ibaka is an All-Star, even if hes not the complete big man on offense. The Thunder have made up for losing Kevin Martin or that third scorer everyone seems to be convinced they need with more minutes for Jackson, more minutes for Lamb and Ryan Gomes picking up the slack.
Watch This One-Handed Kevin Durant Dunk At Drew League
Durant finished with 35 points, 17 rebounds and 3 assists for team LAUNFD. One of his buckets was a thunderous slam with the opposing team unable get a body in front of him before he turned the corner on a high-screen and took to the air. Whats your favorite Kevin Durant Drew League highlight? Follow Spencer on Twitter at @countcenci . Follow Dime on Twitter at @DimeMag . Become a fan of Dime Magazine on Facebook HERE .
Kevin Durant, Kevin Love announce commitment to play in 2014 World Championships for Team USA
Tinsley on July 29, 2013 at 7:42 pm Even when hes not at work, Kevin Durants on some court putting in work. Using a bit of downtime from constructing his team for Nikes #SummerIsSerious campaign , Trey5 stopped by the famed Drew League to get some shots up to the tune of 35 points (and 17 rebounds). To be that tall, with that range and those sort of handles is just unfair. But its damn sure a pleasure to witness. Just watching the video makes me long for the start of the NBA season. The same NBA season that starts in exactly 93 days for those keeping track at home. Update: KDs missed three following World Peaces two missed free throws giving Games Money Gang a 92-90 victory over Baron Davis LAUNFD. For those who care about these sorts of things, the stat lines looked like this: Durant 35 points, 17 rebounds World Peace 29 points, 13 rebounds (and one technical foul for throwing the ball at an opposing player) DeMar DeRozen 27 points, 11 rebounds Photo: Getty
Playoff Putbacks: Can Kevin Durant carry Thunder alone?
Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 88, Thunder 84 — Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Tayshaun Prince (21). Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Game 5 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 88, Thunder 84 — Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur (00) fights for a loose ball with Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) and Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) while Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) looks on. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 4 in Memphis: Grizzlies 103, Thunder 97 (OT) — Tony Allen (9) and Marc Gasol (33) bring the double team on Kevin Durant. Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 4 in Memphis: Grizzlies 103, Thunder 97 (OT) — Marc Gasol (33) pulls down a rebound against Serge Ibaka (9). Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 4 in Memphis: Grizzlies 103, Thunder 97 (OT) — Kevin Durant (35) puts up a shot over Tayshaun Prince (21). Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 4 in Memphis: Grizzlies 103, Thunder 97 (OT) — Mike Conley (11) puts up a shot over Reggie Jackson (15). Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports Game 3 in Memphis: Grizzlies 87, Thunder 81 – Mike Conley brings the ball up as Thabo Sefolosha defends. Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 3 in Memphis: Grizzlies 81, Thunder 81 – Kevin Durant sets the play as Zach Randolph and Tayshaun Prince defend. Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 3 in Memphis: Grizzlies 87, Thunder 81 – Jerryd Bayless spots up to shoot. Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 3 in Memphis: Grizzlies 87, Thunder 81 – Tony Allen hangs onto the rim after a dunk. Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99, Thunder 93 — Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph attempts a shot against Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99, Thunder 93 — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant dunks the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99, Thunder 93 — Grizzlies guard Mike Conley handles the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99, Thunder 93 — Memphis Grizzlies forward Ed Davis dunks the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 2 in Oklahoma City: Grizzlies 99, Thunder 93 — Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, front, and forward Tayshaun Prince. Mark D. Smith, USA TODAY Sports Game 1 in Oklahoma City: Thunder 93, Grizzlies 91 – Lydia Horst of Edmond, Okla., bounces a basketball as she waits to go into Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mark D.
Kevin Durant Had His Jersey Number In Points At The Drew League
Kevin Durant, the second-best basketball player in the world, isnt looking so good by those standards. The Oklahoma City Thunder forward showed up at the Drew League on Sunday to play a team headlined by new New York Knicks forward Metta World Peace and Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan. So yes, the competition was real. But the best player had the ball at the end, his LAUFND team down two points to Money Gang. And Durant did what weve seen him do so many times, throwing up a long three-pointer to win it. Final: Money Gang defeats LAUNFD 92-90. @KDTrey5 misses the game winning three-pointer. #TheDrew Drew League (@drewleague) July 28, 2013 Durant finished with 35 points and 17 rebounds, while World Peace had 29 and 13.
Dipping Into The Blogpond 