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

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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waLVDkASRhU"]YouTube - Byron Mullens' Summer of Improvement[/ame]

(clip from the OKC Thunder intra-squad scrimmage 10.1.2010)

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xaqwmv-9AKE"]YouTube - Thunder Open Scrimmage 2[/ame]
 
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Five questions with Thunder center Byron Mullens
Oklahoman
Published: October 5, 2010

Byron Mullens

→What's the biggest difference for you between last year's training camp and this year's?

Byron Mullens

"Last year at this time I probably would have been sore, sitting on the sideline. This year, I'm getting past the physical part and now I'm just trying to get past the mental part. It's going great. I'm still taking care of my body, getting a massage every day. It's great.?

→You had a three-hour session today.

"It's tough, but we're warriors and this is what we're trained to do.?

→Talk about going against rookie Cole Aldrich every day.

"It's a battle out there between us, but we're just trying to get each other better, just like every other teammate.?

→Ready to beat up on somebody else other than a teammate?

"We're running plays against these guys that they already know. They kind of don't work. They're kind of cheating on the plays. I am, too.?

→How do you feel about the exhibition game? Nervous? Excited?

"There might me a little bit of butterflies. There's always butterflies. You're going to be nervous. Usually when you're nervous before a game that's when you have your best game.?
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Read more: http://newsok.com/five-questions/article/3501416#ixzz11U7QBgVI
 
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OKC Exercises team options on six players
The Thunder announced Monday that it has exercised the third-year team options James Harden, Ibaka, Eric Maynor and Byron Mullens and the fourth-year options on Russell Westbrook and D.J. White.

The move ensures that all six players will be under contract with the team through the 2011-12 season.
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Read more: http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook/article/3508090#ixzz13VrmmdNK
 
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Byron Mullens made his season debut tonight, getting his first action inside the final three minutes. He was active, I believe, for the first time this season. And to make room for him to suit up, the Thunder put Cole Aldrich on the inactive list. But before anyone jumps to conclusions, I?m told the coaching staff loves how hard Mullens has worked lately and wanted to reward him. Aldrich is not hurt or in anyone?s doghouse?But it will be interesting to see what happens from here.
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http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2010/11/17/thunder-116-rockets-99/
 
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Thunder notebook: Cole Aldrich moves over for Byron Mullens
Oklahoman
Published: November 21, 2010

Aldrich moves over for Mullens

No. 11 overall pick Cole Aldrich has not played since Nov. 10. And recently, the rookie center out of Kansas has been placed on the inactive list while second-year center Byron Mullens moves to the active list.

?It?s just a couple of games, just to get Byron a look and see what he brings,? said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. ?And it gives Cole the opportunity to get after it on a game day knowing he?s not going to play.?

At the start of the regular season, it appeared Aldrich was well ahead of Mullens on the Thunder?s depth chart. Brooks, however, said his decision to deactivate Aldrich over the past few games is not a demotion.

?Both are good players that are developing and getting better,? Brooks said. ?We like them both. You only can activate 12 guys. You have to make some tough decisions. That?s just part of it.?
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Read more: http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-...r-byron-mullens/article/3516682#ixzz15vH82HcO
 
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* The reason I started this post posing the question about the game ball is because I got into a little debate about just that with Kevin Durant. You know where I stand. But you might be shocked to hear who gets his game ball. ?The game ball goes to Byron Mullens,? Durant said. ?Hibbert got it going for a little bit there and he came in and stopped him. He slowed him down a lot and that allowed us to get out and get some easy baskets.?

* While I respectfully disagreed with Durant, Mullens was indeed huge. He played five minutes tonight, checking in with the Thunder down 64-50. Replacing an ineffective Serge Ibaka, who got the start for an injured Nenad Krstic (back spasms), Mullens played great defense on Hibbert and forced him further away from the basket while contesting his shots better at the rim when Hibbert did get good looks. Said Thunder coach Scott Brooks: ?We had nobody to stop Hibbert, and I thought (Mullens) did a fantastic job of battling and fighting him and not giving in to his play. I thought those five minutes were a big part of our win. We had no answer for him at that point in the game. And Byron came in and (did something) that?s not easy.?
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http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2010/11/27/thunder-110-pacers-106/
 
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MULLENS ASSIGNED TO TULSA
Center Byron Mullens has been sent to the Tulsa 66ers, the Thunder-owned NBA D-League franchise. Mullens, the 24th overall pick in 2009, has averaged just 2.8 minutes in five games this season.

But Mullens? assignment is as much about his long-term development as his short-term situation. The Thunder remains committed to the 7-foot center and views its D-League team as a vital resource for its young players. Mullens made great strides a year ago through time spent in Tulsa. Mullens started and played 27 games for the 66ers last season, averaging 15 points and 7.5 rebounds in 31.5 minutes.
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Read more: http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-ibaka-provides-big-lift/article/3522393#ixzz17i6Pfu00
 
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Thunder notebook: Byron Mullens returns early from 66ers
Oklahoman
Published: December 13, 2010

Mullens returns early from 66ers
Starting center Nenad Krstic (back spasms) and rookie center Cole Aldrich (left rib contusion) were both inactive for Sunday?s 106-77 victory over Cleveland and their playing status remain day-to-day.

With a shortage at the position, the Thunder recalled second-year center Byron Mullens from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League. Mullens played seven minutes and had five points, five rebounds, one steal and one blocked shot.

In his lone appearance with the 66ers, Mullens had 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block in 33 minutes.
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Read more: http://newsok.com/thunder-notebook-...arly-from-66ers/article/3523253#ixzz17zv0S4ey
 
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medium.jpg



It's been a good last seven days for Mullens (except for the shot in the chops he took from Ryan Hollins). He scored 19 in the D-League game, and then was able to get an opportunity to play vs Cleveland two days later via the early call up (played a little in the 1st quarter last night as well).

(Video of Byron vs Cleveland: these are the homer announcers for OKC, but it is representative of how the franchise views him).

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FVSJQcHa7M"]YouTube - Byron Mullens - 12.12.2010[/ame]
 
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Practice Report: Mullens Making Most of Opportunities
By CHRIS SILVA | THUNDER.NBA.COM

In less than 48 hours, Byron Mullens went from playing in a NBA D-League game for the Tulsa 66ers in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to logging a season-high seven minutes in Sunday?s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With Cole Aldrich and Nenad Krstic both nursing injuries, the Thunder recalled Mullens from the 66ers for Sunday?s game. The second-year center made it a few hours before tip-off after a snowstorm kept him in Sioux Falls an extra night. He finished with five points, five rebounds, a steal and a block against the Cavs. Mullens said he?s starting to see his hard work pay off in the minutes he's been given.

?Rebounding, posting up, getting position, taking my time ? me and (assistant coach Mark Bryant) work on that every day,? Mullens said. ?We play 1-on-1 before games and I?m just getting better. I?m just taking my time getting lower than everybody. It?s all leverage and patience. You?ve just got to get lower than your opponent.?

Strength has continued to be one of the biggest differences in Mullens from last season. His work ethic hasn?t changed. Mullens was supposed to play two games while in Sioux Falls, but the second game scheduled for Saturday was canceled because the weather made it difficult to travel to the arena. Not that Mullens would have known since he was already at the arena before the brunt of the storm.

Whether he?s playing big minutes for the 66ers or spot minutes in Oklahoma City, Mullens said he?s always prepared.

?You never know when your number?s going to be called,? he said. ?Whether it?s the last minute of the game or the first minute, I?ve just got to stay ready. You never know who?s watching those minutes so you?ve just got to play hard no matter who you?re playing against, just make the team better and play hard every day.??
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http://www.nba.com/thunder/news/practicereport_101214.html
 
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Mullens Assigned to the 66ers

TULSA, Okla., Feb. 3, 2011 ? Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has assigned center Byron Mullens to the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.

In his first stint in Tulsa, Mullens appeared in one game, recording 19 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 33 minutes.

This season, the center is averaging 1.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.7 minutes in 12 games for Oklahoma City.

Mullens will be in uniform tomorrow night when the 66ers take on the Utah Flash at the Tulsa Convention Center at 7 p.m.
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http://www.gtrnews.com/greater-tulsa-reporter/9287/mullens-assigned-to-the-66ers
 
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Darnell Mayberry: Thunder big men Bryon Mullens, Cole Aldrich have plenty of time left to develop
By Darnell Mayberry Oklahoman
Published: February 7, 2011

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Oklahoma City Thunder center Byron Mullens, right, who was recalled from the NBA Development League prior to the game, dunks in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward J.J. Hickson, left, in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. Oklahoma City won 106-77.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

On the Thunder's plans for young centers Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich:

If Nenad Krstic isn't re-signed and for whatever reason Aldrich and Mullens aren't getting minutes next season, then I'll be closer to writing them off as undesirables. Mullens much more than Aldrich. But, big men are known to take longer to develop and the Thunder is operating with that in mind. They continue to be patient. But at some point you would think these two need some time. The thing that's easily forgotten in their nightly DNP's and stints on the inactive list is that both of these guys are 22 (Mullens will be in a week). They've got a lot of time left to develop into something.
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Read more: http://newsok.com/darnell-mayberry-...left-to-develop/article/3538868#ixzz1DN7z7PvB

I?m watching the Thunder box scores from back here in Columbus, Ohio and it seems Mullens is buried very deep in the bench without much chance of ever developing into a contributing NBA player. I would like to get your take on Mullens? future with the Thunder and or NBA. Thanks. ? Scott.

It?s hard to say since he rarely plays. All I can really go on is the improvement Mullens showed from his first year to his second. He?s looked much better, dating to his first showing of his sophomore season in the Orlando Summer League. He?s become stronger, more confident and has added some more skills. Again, he?s a week shy of his 22nd birthday. I still like him as a prospect. There?s no telling what he can be in five years. If the Thunder gives up on him, I?d bet there are at least a dozen other teams willing to give him a chance. But down here in OKC, Mullens is in a good situation. There is no pressure on him right now to provide anything but an impact on practice court. Meanwhile, he?s learning from some solid veterans (Nick Collison and Nenad Krstic) and a strong coaching staff both with the Thunder (Mark Bryant) and the 66ers (Nate Tibbetts and Dale Osbourne). Be patient and see if it pays off.
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http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumblings/2011/02/07/monday-evening-mailbag/
 
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