-2010 Rookie Class: Byron Mullens
-Age 21
-Games Played As of today: Oklahoma City (NBA) 12 Tulsa (D-League) 27
-11 double figure scoring games in March 2010, including four 21+ point games
-First Pro career playoff game: (4.8.2010) Tulsa vs Sioux Falls (1:30pm)
After another interesting D-League regular season, the 2010 playoffs are here. Rookie center Byron Mullens and the Tulsa 66ers (27-23) secured the 8th & final playoff spot. They will play Sioux Falls (32-18) on Thursday April 8th during the day at 1:30pm (Round One - best 2 of 3 series)
Tulsa is a solid D-League club with talent worth taking a peek at. Familiar names Mustafa Shakur from Arizona & Deron Washington out of Va Tech have put in a lot of work for the team all year. Devon Hardin from Cal & Moses Ehambe (Oral Roberts) contribute..you also have Latvious Williams, the first player to go straight from high school to the D-League. The 66ers have also enjoyed the off and on services of Oklahoma City Thunder assignees Byron Mullens, Kyle Weaver, and DJ White throughout the season as well. Mullens has somewhat quietly come into his own in the D-League, averaging 15 points & 8 rebounds a game. He is coming off a monster March where you could just see the confidence rising.
Looking past the early draft entry, and the what if game. You can say this has indeed been a positive year in Mullen's development. He got warmly welcomed by an up & coming franchise that is mindful of his down the road capability (and willing to give him time). Byron has received ample minutes of experience in the D-League, playing against talented guys his size. OKC recalled Mullens a couple times & rewarded his play with game time action (which can be seen in this video), and when BJ wasn't playing, he was able to soak in atmosphere around a winning team.
The major story of his rookie development is perhaps a reliable jumper that now extends even to 3 point range. Mullens' soft touch for a big guy can make for some pretty plays when he aggressively converts. He's athletic with a nice developing finesse game (can hit the open J, fadeaway from guys with ease, hook shot sometimes)..but we think the next step for this summer is to simply get naturally stronger (which will especially help on defense) The young center must now attempt to shake off the physical & mental fatigue of the longest season of his career..he's got a playoff game to play..
(Some 2010 clips)
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