(J.P Wilson/ OKC Thunder Photos) The annual NBA Vegas Summer League is many things, a great display of textbook basketball it is not. However, Summer League always proves to be a winner for its 'first look' presentation of new rookie draft class. One of the more intriguing post draft story lines of the summer will be that of the play of center B.J. Mullens. Many seemed to have an opinion about Mullens' decision to opt for the NBA over another year at The Ohio State University, then again some did not have an opinion at all, others might have not even heard of the young Columbus ball player all together. That was the growing reality for Mullens, a player who went from a out of HS top 10 projection to an almost post-lottery afterthought.
Yet, the great thing about the month of July is that for the first time, rookies get a chance to create new realities. This is where they will begin their NBA journeys, this is where they can begin to prove things to themselves and the doubters. And if anyone should be playing with an Oklahoma sized chip on his shoulder, it is B.J. Mullens. I must say that I am very interested in seeing him play again. The lasting image of Mullens getting bodied up by Siena's Ryan Rossiter is not a great one for a Buckeye fan. By many accounts B.J.( drafted #24 overall, then traded) had decent draft workouts, but that obviously was not enough to comfort gm's fears about holes in his game. However, lost in all that talk is that he may have found himself to be in a very good situation with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Oklahoma City, Mullens will join a good young core of players featuring rising star Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and now silky sooth James Harden. Here he won't have to play with much pressure at all, he just has to get better. Summer League competition is obviously not the NBA playoffs, but it still filled with name guys, current NBA players, big time athletes, and guys with size like like Mullens. It will be very interesting to view how he fares. Lets take a look at the roster.
Yet, the great thing about the month of July is that for the first time, rookies get a chance to create new realities. This is where they will begin their NBA journeys, this is where they can begin to prove things to themselves and the doubters. And if anyone should be playing with an Oklahoma sized chip on his shoulder, it is B.J. Mullens. I must say that I am very interested in seeing him play again. The lasting image of Mullens getting bodied up by Siena's Ryan Rossiter is not a great one for a Buckeye fan. By many accounts B.J.( drafted #24 overall, then traded) had decent draft workouts, but that obviously was not enough to comfort gm's fears about holes in his game. However, lost in all that talk is that he may have found himself to be in a very good situation with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Oklahoma City, Mullens will join a good young core of players featuring rising star Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and now silky sooth James Harden. Here he won't have to play with much pressure at all, he just has to get better. Summer League competition is obviously not the NBA playoffs, but it still filled with name guys, current NBA players, big time athletes, and guys with size like like Mullens. It will be very interesting to view how he fares. Lets take a look at the roster.
- The 2009 Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League Roster -
15 DeAngelo Alexander# G 6-5 215 01/21/84 Charlotte R
15 Marcus Dove* F 6-9 212 06/17/85 Oklahoma State R
17 Moses Ehambe F 6-6 200 05/22/86 Oral Roberts R
13 James Harden G 6-5 220 08/26/89 Arizona State R
50 Devon Hardin C 6-11 235 06/03/86 California R
42 Kyle Hines# F/C 6-6 230 09/02/86 UNC Greensboro R
9 Serge Ibaka F 6-10 220 09/18/89 Congo R
14 Shaun Livingston G 6-7 185 09/11/85 Peoria Central HS (IL) 4
2 Keith McLeod* G 6-2 190 11/05/79 Bowling Green State 5
23 B.J. Mullens C 7-0 275 02/14/89 Ohio State R
11 Richard Roby* G 6-6 205 09/28/85 Colorado R
45 Doug Thomas* F 6-8 245 09/20/83 Iowa R
5 Kyle Weaver G 6-6 201 02/18/86 Washington State 1
0 Russell Westbrook# G 6-3 187 11/12/88 UCLA 1
3 D.J. White F 6-9 251 08/31/86 Indiana 1
30 Robert Vaden G 6-5 205 03/03/85 Alabama-Birmingham R
(Notes: The tallest team in the pool right out of the gate with a big time matchup with #2 Overall pick Hasheem Thabeet. Hadin/Ibaka/Mullens will also have to deal with Iranian project Hamed Haddadi and Longar Longar, Stiemsma played at Wisconsin.)
L.A Lakers-
50 Aron Baynes C 6-11 270
15 Marcus Dove* F 6-9 212 06/17/85 Oklahoma State R
17 Moses Ehambe F 6-6 200 05/22/86 Oral Roberts R
13 James Harden G 6-5 220 08/26/89 Arizona State R
50 Devon Hardin C 6-11 235 06/03/86 California R
42 Kyle Hines# F/C 6-6 230 09/02/86 UNC Greensboro R
9 Serge Ibaka F 6-10 220 09/18/89 Congo R
14 Shaun Livingston G 6-7 185 09/11/85 Peoria Central HS (IL) 4
2 Keith McLeod* G 6-2 190 11/05/79 Bowling Green State 5
23 B.J. Mullens C 7-0 275 02/14/89 Ohio State R
11 Richard Roby* G 6-6 205 09/28/85 Colorado R
45 Doug Thomas* F 6-8 245 09/20/83 Iowa R
5 Kyle Weaver G 6-6 201 02/18/86 Washington State 1
0 Russell Westbrook# G 6-3 187 11/12/88 UCLA 1
3 D.J. White F 6-9 251 08/31/86 Indiana 1
30 Robert Vaden G 6-5 205 03/03/85 Alabama-Birmingham R
Notes:
-All eyes will especially be on Russell Westbrook as well as the rookies Harden & Mullens. But they have some help on their side with the likes of Cal big man Devon Hardin and Shawn Livingston, a former prep star who is attempting to rebuild his career after a devastating knee injury.
-Robert Vaden & DJ White played together at Indiana under Mike Davis.
-Marcus Dove is a versatile forward out of Oklahoma State.
-I never liked Doug Thomas, but maybe that is because he played for Iowa..he's been overseas for a couple years so he might have improved.
-Keith McLeod is a solid vet, this must be in 3rd or 4th summer league...he takes the young guys to school here.
-Also keep an eye on Serge Ibaka from Congo, he's a physical specimen who can really get up)
-All eyes will especially be on Russell Westbrook as well as the rookies Harden & Mullens. But they have some help on their side with the likes of Cal big man Devon Hardin and Shawn Livingston, a former prep star who is attempting to rebuild his career after a devastating knee injury.
-Robert Vaden & DJ White played together at Indiana under Mike Davis.
-Marcus Dove is a versatile forward out of Oklahoma State.
-I never liked Doug Thomas, but maybe that is because he played for Iowa..he's been overseas for a couple years so he might have improved.
-Keith McLeod is a solid vet, this must be in 3rd or 4th summer league...he takes the young guys to school here.
-Also keep an eye on Serge Ibaka from Congo, he's a physical specimen who can really get up)
- Schedule -
(All Times CDT Vegas)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIPOFF
Sunday, July 12 Memphis Grizzlies 7:00 p.m. COX Pavilion
Tuesday, July 14 L.A. Lakers 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Thursday, July 15 San Antonio Spurs 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Friday, July 17 Chicago Bulls 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Saturday, July 18 Dallas Mavericks 3:00 p.m. COX Pavilion
Mullens & Oklahoma City will get a chance to first play in Florida in the Orlando Pro Summer league before entering the more heralded NBA Vegas Summer League on the 12th.
| Date | Opponent | Time (CDT) |
| July 6 | Orlando | 4:00 p.m. |
| July 7 | Indiana | 6:00 p.m. |
| July 8 | Boston | 4:00 p.m. |
| July 9 | NJ/Phil | 2:00 p.m. |
| July 10 | Utah (Kosta Koufos) | 10:00 a.m. |
(All Times CDT Vegas)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIPOFF
Sunday, July 12 Memphis Grizzlies 7:00 p.m. COX Pavilion
Tuesday, July 14 L.A. Lakers 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Thursday, July 15 San Antonio Spurs 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Friday, July 17 Chicago Bulls 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Saturday, July 18 Dallas Mavericks 3:00 p.m. COX Pavilion
Opposing teams' big guys
Memphis -
34 Hasheem Thabeet C 7-3 267
15 Hamed Haddadi C 7-2 265
30 Longar Longar C 6-11 234
35 Greg Stiemsma C 6-11 260
34 Hasheem Thabeet C 7-3 267
15 Hamed Haddadi C 7-2 265
30 Longar Longar C 6-11 234
35 Greg Stiemsma C 6-11 260
(Notes: The tallest team in the pool right out of the gate with a big time matchup with #2 Overall pick Hasheem Thabeet. Hadin/Ibaka/Mullens will also have to deal with Iranian project Hamed Haddadi and Longar Longar, Stiemsma played at Wisconsin.)
L.A Lakers-
50 Aron Baynes C 6-11 270
55 Luke Schenscher C 7-1 260
41 Chinemelu Elonu F 6-10 240
(Notes: Schenscher played on Georgia Tech's national runner up team)
41 Chinemelu Elonu F 6-10 240
(Notes: Schenscher played on Georgia Tech's national runner up team)
San Antonio Spurs-
45 DeJuan Blair F 6-7 265
28 Ian Mahinmi C 6-11
19 Marcus Vinicius F 6-9
(Notes: DeJuan Blair..oh my..that might not be a pretty sight)
45 DeJuan Blair F 6-7 265
28 Ian Mahinmi C 6-11
19 Marcus Vinicius F 6-9
(Notes: DeJuan Blair..oh my..that might not be a pretty sight)
Chicago Bulls -
50 Luke Zeller C 6-11 240
42 Nick Lewis F/C 6-11 240
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225
40 James Augustine F/C 6-10 240
(Notes: Some of these guys will test Mullens' ability to defend out a little bit and guard face up shooters. Augustine played on the fighting Illini's National Runner up team. Terence Dials had his way with James a couple times back at Ohio State.)
http://www.nbadraft.net/node/8843
You can view all summer leagues at www.nba.com/summerleague ..just sign up it's free! Also NBATV will be showing games as well.
-B3-
50 Luke Zeller C 6-11 240
42 Nick Lewis F/C 6-11 240
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225
40 James Augustine F/C 6-10 240
(Notes: Some of these guys will test Mullens' ability to defend out a little bit and guard face up shooters. Augustine played on the fighting Illini's National Runner up team. Terence Dials had his way with James a couple times back at Ohio State.)
http://www.nbadraft.net/node/8843
You can view all summer leagues at www.nba.com/summerleague ..just sign up it's free! Also NBATV will be showing games as well.
-B3-
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