Serbia basketball player Nenad Krstic, a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was released Friday after being held in police custody overnight following a chaotic brawl during a match with Greece.
The fight broke out during the last game of the Acropolis tournament, which was canceled with 2:40 remaining and Greece leading by one point.
The incident occurred just a week before the basketball world championship in Turkey, where both teams will play.
YouTube.com
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Royal Ivey
The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed free agent guard Royal Ivey to a contract, Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today.
Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not announced.
“We are pleased to welcome Royal to the Thunder organization,” Presti said.
“His defensive mentality, competitiveness and well documented professionalism adds depth to our backcourt and strengthens the identity of our basketball team.”
Inside Hoops
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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant says he has reached a deal on a five-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On his Twitter page Wednesday, Durant said that “God Is Great, me and my family came a long way.”
Durant’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, told ESPN.com’s J.A. Adande the deal will be worth about $86 million over five years.
The specific amount will be determined when the salary cap numbers are finalized on July 8, when Durant can officially sign the contract.
ESPN.com
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Nick Collison
Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Nick Collison underwent successful arthroscopic surgery yesterday on his right knee.
The seven-year veteran averaged 5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 75 games this season for the Thunder.
Collison will begin rehabilitation immediately and is expected to resume his off-season training later this summer.
Real GM
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Kobe Bryant
An improving Kobe Bryant was not willing to take panic to the level of must-win, as teammate Andrew Bynum did, but did concede the Thunder has L.A. beat in one aspect of their game.
He knows his elevation has been lacking because of the knee. He has shot only 38.4% this series, the most inaccurate he has been in the playoffs since shooting 38.2% as a rookie in 1997.
“Their speed is remarkable. We’re obviously not as fast as they are, nowhere near.”
FanNation
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Scott Brooks
Oklahoma City’s Scott Brooks is the recipient of the Red Auerbach Trophy as the 2009-10 NBA Coach of the Year, the NBA announced today.
In his first full season at the helm in Oklahoma City, Brooks guided the Thunder to a 50-32 (.610) season and the organization’s first playoff berth since 2005. Brooks coached the Thunder – the NBA’s youngest team – to an NBA-best 27-game turnaround following a 23-59 (.280) record in 2008-09.
Scott Skiles and Nate McMillan finished second and third in voting respectively.
Real GM
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Ron Artest
Ron Artest fancies gimmicks as well but on Sunday in the Lakers’ 87-79 Game 1 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Artest’s defense and not his hair was the difference. He was, if you will, Goldie Lock-down defender.
He made life absolutely miserable for Kevin Durant, who became the NBA’s youngest scoring champion by averaging 30.2 points this season.
Durant’s playoff initiation is something the lean and long 21-year-old will never forget. Durant scored 24 points on 24 shots. He made just seven shots, fired up a couple of air balls and never found a rhythm.
“I was frustrated,” said Durant, who made 9 of 11 from the foul line.
Inside Hoops
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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant scored 31 points to finish the season as the youngest NBA scoring champion.
“It’s something I really wasn’t coming into the year saying I wanted to get but it feels good to be a part of history and something I’m going to always remember,” Durant said. “It feels even better to get 50 wins.”
The 21-year-old finished with an average of 30.1 points, 0.4 ahead of LeBron James.
HoopsWorld
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