C Byron 'B.J.' Mullens (Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo - Japan)

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHKIhAuMNE]YouTube - Rookie Class - Byron Mullens (2010 Clips)[/ame]

 

[Onebuckfan]

I'm not sure what this means....Coach K certainly felt bitterness towards early entrants after Maggette, Avery, and Elton Brand left Duke early...tot he point where Coach K doesn't recruit 1 and done players. It's also partially why Duke gets out-athleted in the tournament every year now, and loses when the 3 ball isn't dropping.

I'll take an upset Kosta Koufos and B.J. Mullen if it means Mike Conley and Greg Oden as well. Duke can have their consecutive streak of tournament appearances, but they haven't been a threat to win it since Jason Williams and Sheldon Williams were there....

OOOPS!!

 

[Buckskin86]

MULLENS, SHAKUR RECALLED
Rookie center Byron Mullens and guard Mustafa Shakur were recalled by the Thunder before Wednesday?s game. Mullens and Shakur, signed last month out of the D-League, will both return to the Tulsa 66ers in time for the second round of the playoffs. Both will return to the 66ers this weekend when Tulsa opens a best-of-3 semifinal series Friday night against the Iowa Energy.

Read more: NewsOK

 

[Buckskin86]

The Main Event: Byron Mullens working hard to move up the Thunder depth chart
BY JOHN ROHDE, STAFF WRITER, [email protected] Oklahoman
Published: June 21, 2010

Thunder center Byron Mullens has worked hard with the Tulsa 66ers this past season, and is working hard in the off-season to move up the Oklahoma City depth chart. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN

Byron Mullens repeatedly hears how the Thunder needs a center, which can be more than a tad disconcerting when you're No. 4 on your team depth chart.

The Thunder is expected to use one of its four NBA Draft picks, at least, to select someone who plays his position.

"I don't have any reaction to it," Mullens said. "I'm totally fine with it. It just makes me hungrier. I've been here a year and I've just got to show the general manager and the coaches that this is my spot, this where I belong and no one's going to take it."

The Thunder owns the No. 21, No. 26, No. 32 and No. 51 selections for Thursday night's draft. Will there be a center available in those draft slots who is better than the Thunder's current lineup of Nenad Krstic, Nick Collison, Serge Ibaka and Mullens? If the answer is no, then why waste your pick(s)?

Mullens figures having one season in the NBA gives him a significant jump on the rookie competition. But he is still doing 6 a.m. daily workouts and coming back at noon to lift weights. How many rookies are doing that?

Mullens also hasn't taken any time off since last season ended. It's gotten to a point where Thunder bosses are pleading for Mullens to take a breather.

"They're telling me to take a vacation in August," the 21-year-old Mullens said with a smile. "I probably should, but I don't know."

Mullens was sent back-and-forth last season to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder's affiliated team in the NBA Developmental League.

In 27 regular-season games (all starts) with the 66ers, Mullens averaged 15.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 31.5 minutes, shot 45.2 percent from the field and 69.3 percent from the line. In four postseason games, Mullens averaged 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds in 26.3 minutes. He also saw action in 13 regular-season games with the Thunder.

Being forced to make multiple trips on the Turner Turnpike might offend most first-round draft choices, but not the 7-foot, 275-pound Mullens, who was picked No. 24 overall by Dallas last season and quickly traded to the Thunder for point guard Rodrique Beaubois one pick later.

"I didn't take it like, 'Oh, man. I don't need to be down here,' " Mullens said. "I took it as a chance to get some work done and try to get better. I've learned what I need to work on and I'm going to get a lot better. Coming out of Ohio State, I knew that was something that might come into play. I just looked at Tulsa as a second year of college to me. I could still develop my skills, but I also was in the NBA where I wanted to be. Plus, I'm playing against better talent."

Read more: The Main Event: Byron Mullens working hard to move up the Thunder depth chart | NewsOK.com

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYkklpwrXC4]YouTube - Byron Mullens Short[/ame]

 

[dragurd]

He looked pretty good in the summer league game but then again it's summer league.

 

[Buckskin86]

BJ Mullens (#24 in ?09) led all scorers with 24 points on 6-12 shooting. Mullens maximized his effectiveness by also getting to the line and making his free throws. Early on it appeared as if Mullens had regressed since last year with uninspired play, but as the game progressed, he showed signs of life and really became a contributor, finishing with 7 rebounds.

Orlando Summer League: Day 1 | NBADraft.net

 

[Buckskin86]

BJ Mullens followed his strong Monday performance with a weak 2-10 shooting performance and 3 rebounds. Mullens missed about four point blank putbacks in a matter of seconds and later tried to catch a pass with his face. BJ finished with 12 points by hitting his free throws but he begs to ask the question; ?Is he any good or is he just tall??

Orlando Summer League: Day 2 | NBADraft.net

Mullens prepping for braces

Byron Mullens came to Orlando with a speech impediment. He has a mouth widener to thank for it.

"I'm getting some braces," Mullens awkwardly explained. "My mouth is real narrow so the dentist said if I get it widened out it'll open up my breathing a little more."

Mullens must wear the widener, which is glued to the roof of his mouth, for three months. And it's created a bit of an issue this week since it's mandatory he keeps it in while playing.

"I've been running a lot to get in shape for this week because it's harder to breathe for me," Mulles said. "I've only had it in for about a week. But when I take it off I'm going to be in tip-top shape. So it's kind of like a win-lose situation right now."

Read more: Thunder notebook: Thunder general manager Sam Presti unlikely to take New Jersey job | NewsOK.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder notebook
Thunder notes
Oklahoman
Published: July 8, 2010


Mullens again impresses in win over 76ers
Byron Mullens continues turning heads in Orlando.

The Thunder's second-year center scored 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting to go with six rebounds in Wednesday's 89-80 win over Philadelphia. In the Thunder's opening summer league game against Boston, Mullens scored 24 points on 6-for-12 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds. Although he scored only 12 points on 2-for-12 shooting Tuesday vs. Charlotte, Mullens maintained his aggressiveness. He got to the free-throw line 12 times and blocked two shots.

"He went down to the D-League (last) year and took advantage of his opportunities to improve,? said Thunder summer league coach Brian Keefe. "And then coming back in the summer league, he's added some strength, he's given us some defensive presence and I think you guys have seen his ability to run the court...I think he's showing some growth, which is great. We've really been pleased with Byron.?

Read more: Thunder notebook | NewsOK.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder: Byron Mullens attracts attention
Youngster looks ready to become an NBA player
By Darnell Mayberry Oklahoman
Published: July 10, 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. ? A prominent Eastern Conference coach was casually chatting with two scouts from rival teams at this week's AirTran Airways Pro Summer League. Somehow, the free-flowing, candid conversation found a focus and settled on the subject of player development.

Thunder: Byron Mullens attracts attention The coach made an example of Thunder center Byron Mullens.

"Look at how much better he's gotten after just one year,? started the chatty coach. "He couldn't do (expletive) last year. But with a guy like him, you can see how much one year makes a difference.?

If you saw Mullens perform in Orlando this week, you had no choice but to come away impressed. The 7-foot-1 project out of Ohio State turned heads all week before sitting out Friday's finale against Indiana. Mullens finished second on the team in scoring with a 16-point average and led the team in rebounding at 6.3 per contest.

And suddenly, Mullens looks ready to become an NBA player.

"Last year when I played here, I think I had one good game,? Mullens recalled. "But this whole week has been good to me.?

Good enough that the whispers of "We could have had Roddy Beaubois? from Thunder fans might finally cease this season.

Mullens displayed all-around improvement throughout his four-game stint. He committed himself to the gym and the weight room since the end of the season, and it showed from the start. Mullens arrived in Orlando with 15 more pounds of muscle and couldn't wait to throw around his weight.

Read more: Thunder: Byron Mullens attracts attention | NewsOK.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Sentinel Institute: Thunder's B.J. Mullens shows progress in summer league
By Justin Kane, SENTINEL INSTITUTE Staff reporter
July 10, 2010

MAITLAND ? Many college athletes face a tough decision in their college careers ? the choice of staying in college or trying to make it at the pro level. For Oklahoma City center Byron "B.J" Mullens, leaving school after only one year has made him more of a man and a better basketball player.

As a true freshman at Ohio State in 2008-09, Mullens averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks playing 20.3 minutes per game. His season high was 19 points versus UNC-Asheville. He helped lead the team to the 2009 NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He was voted by the coaches as the 2009 Big Ten Sixth man of the year and he set a Buckeye freshman record for field goal percentage (63.8 percent).

After the season he elected to leave school early enter the NBA Draft. In last year's draft, 17 of the 49 players who entered early were left undrafted. Fortunately for Mullens, he was not one of those 17. His dream was to play in the NBA and he felt that entering after his freshman year was his best shot of making a NBA roster.

"I grew up and became a man," said Mullens, who spent last week honing his skills in the AirTran Airways Pro Summer League hosted by the Orlando Magic. "It [the NBA] was in front of my eyes and it's always where I wanted to be, a few years down the road I could be starting but I don't regret leaving [Ohio State] at all."

Sentinel Institute: B.J. Mullens hones his skills in Summer League action - OrlandoSentinel.com

 

[Buckskin86]

Byron Mullens does indeed possess the potential he was projected to have coming out of Ohio State. If Mullens remained at Ohio State for his sophomore season and showed as much growth over the past year as he has with the Thunder, he likely would have been a top five pick in this year's draft. Mullens added 15 pounds of muscle and displayed a nifty new low-post game to complement his ability to step outside and hit jumpers and run the floor and finish in transition. It's too early to pencil him into the rotation next season, but another year of development at the same rate and Mullens could prove to be a steal.

Read more: Thunder Insider: Five things we learned from the Orlando summer league | NewsOK.com

 

[naptownbuck]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzA5fUlq8ic"]YouTube - OKC Thunder's Byron Mullens helps out at Sunbeam Family Services[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

For Mullens, a Summer of Improvement in Game, Body
By CHRIS SILVA | THUNDER.NBA.COM

He changed his diet, workout regimen and even canceled a Caribbean vacation.

He?s spent time working out back home in Columbus, Houston, Las Vegas and, since June, every other week in Oklahoma City.

?It?s been the best summer I?ve ever had with working out,? Byron Mullens said.

It?s certainly been his most productive summer, which was exactly what Mullens set his hopes for ever since his rookie season came to an end.

When we last saw Mullens, he was working like a mad man on his pick-and-roll game at the Orlando Pro Summer League, where he averaged 16 points and 6.3 rebounds in four games to earn First Team All-Summer League honors.

Mullens said he got great feedback from the coaching staff on his performance, down to the finest detail such as his posture.

?Just holding your head up,? he said. ?If I make a mistake, just forget about it. Keep going and play on defense. Last year I would have made a mistake and it would have led to another mistake.?

THUNDER: For Mullens, a Summer of Improvement in Game, Body

 

[Buckskin86]

Thunder center brightens the day for homeless children
Byron Mullens, Rumble visit students of Positive Tomorrows
By PHIL BACHARACH for THUNDER.NBA.COM

Byron Mullens did his best to accommodate the pint-sized autograph seekers. In a classroom adorned by balloons and multicolored confetti, the Thunder center signed posters and chatted with the students of Positive Tomorrows, a private elementary school in Oklahoma City for homeless children.

A back-to-school celebration, the event featured Mullens and the indefatigable Rumble the Bison. There was cake. There was punch. And there was a 7-foot NBA player who knew all too well the unique challenges facing these kids.

?It reminds me of myself when I was 12- and 13-years-old and in a homeless shelter in Columbus, Ohio -- of where I was and how I had to get to this point,? said Mullens.

The 21-year-old, who spent much of his childhood shuffling through shelters and foster care, said he wants to do what he can to impact the Positive Tomorrows students.

?I came through the same place that they?re going through right now,? he said.

?When I was younger, I never thought, ?Well, when I?m 21 I?ll be in the NBA.? My next step was ? how I?m going to get to the next day. These kids need to see that, and they need a positive role model in their life, and I hope to be able to do that.?

And he is doing just that. Positive Tomorrows Development Director April Doshier said a visit from someone of Mullens? stature, figurative and literal, can have a real and enduring influence on these young people.

?These children get so little opportunity to see people who have been extremely successful, especially someone who?s come from their background and been in a very similar position to them,? Doshier said.

?These are the experiences that make lifelong changes for these children, that one moment in time where they thought, ?I could be somebody, too.? And then they try a little harder in school and they try a little harder to make friends and they believe in themselves.?

Mullens capped his visit -- his second to Positive Tomorrows -- by signing posters for the children. Among the recipients was a blonde girl wearing a light purple ?Princess and the Frog? T-shirt. The girl, who appeared to be about 7, nearly swooned. ?He signed it!? she squealed, clutching the treasure to her chest.

?It?s fun,? Mullens said later. ?And it?s nice to see a smile on their faces, because they don?t get to have that many.?

http://www.nba.com/thunder/community/positive_tomorrows_100915.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ywDGcNdbnM"]YouTube - Mullens, Rumble Visit Positive Tomorrows[/ame]