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y0yoyoin;1870972; said:
Fine. Laugh now. Just wait until they get that Jedi mind thing working. Unbeatable. Simply unbeatable.
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Buckskin86
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Mullens making quick impact with 66ers
By KELLY HINES World Sports Writer
Published: 2/11/2011
Tulsa's Byron Mullens has scored 20 and 19 points in his two games since being reassigned from Oklahoma City. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
When Byron Mullens returned to the Tulsa 66ers roster last week, it was as if he had never left.
Since being reassigned by the Oklahoma City Thunder to its D-League affiliate, Mullens has started both of the team's games. Against Utah on Friday, he scored five of the team's first nine points and hit the winning shot. He also had a team-high 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in a loss to Texas on Saturday.
"A lot of times when guys are at the NBA level and they're not playing many minutes, when they get sent down, it's a change of pace just because it's game action," Tulsa coach Nate Tibbetts said. "Byron's had a good week of practice, and he's going to continue to get better in every game."
Mullens and the 66ers play Utah again Friday and Saturday at the Tulsa Convention Center. Tulsa leads the Western Conference and has a league-best 23-8 record.
A 7-foot center who turns 22 on Monday, Mullens is tied for 10th in D-League scoring with an average of 19.3 points in three games, including one in December when he was briefly with Tulsa. His coach said Mullens improved during his time in Oklahoma City.
"He's playing with more physicality," Tibbetts said. "He's around the rim a lot more. His confidence is going to continue to grow with his experience, and I think you're seeing that."
Cont..
Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsext...id=410&articleid=20110211_235_B2_CUTLIN873774
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Buckskin86
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OKC Thunder 2010-2011 Final Player Grades: Byron Mullens
by J.A. Sherman on May 31, 2011
Sue Ogrocki
Today we look at the third young big man that the Thunder began this departed season with - Byron Mullens. He, like D.J. White and Cole Aldrich, spent most of his time on the sidelines as it was difficult to crack into the rotation, so our sample set is limited. His challenge, like Aldrich, will be to see if he can grow into a competent back-up center behind Kendrick Perkins.
***
BYRON MULLENS
History
Mullens was a basketball prodigy coming up through the high school ranks. He accepted a scholarship to play with the Ohio State Buckeyes when he was heading into the 9th grade and signed his letter of intent in 2007. Mullens had modest success while at OSU, scoring only 8.8 points and grabbing 4.7 rebounds in his lone season. After his freshman year at OSU, Mullens declared himself eligible for the NBA draft in 2009. Mullens was selected at the 24th pick by the Dallas Mavericks, and immediately traded to the Thunder for the aptly named French player, Rodrigue Beaubois.
Since joining the Thunder, Mullens has appeared sporadically in their regular season games, booking appearances in 13 games in each of his two seasons.
Pre-Season Expectation
Star-divide
Mullens is a 7 footer with good athletic ability and solid shooting range. While Aldrich is a defense-first center, Mullens has shown more signs on the offensive end of the court. Heading into this season, the Thunder featured Nenad Krstic as the starting center and hoped that either Mullens or Aldrich would round into form and provide valuable back-up minutes. In the Thunder's perimeter-oriented offense, Mullens' talent set was likely expected to blend well.
Regular Season Grade: D
Cont..
http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/20...r-2010-2011-final-player-grades-byron-mullens
http://blog.newsok.com/thunderrumbl...ed-byron-mullens-on-the-thunders-depth-chart/
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Buckskin86
Moderator
Thunder exercise options on five players, including Byron Mullens
June 28th, 2011 Royce Young
Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images
Big, super big news here people: The Thunder exercised options on James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Eric Maynor, Cole Aldrich and Byron Mullens.
The options for Harden, Ibaka, Maynor and Mullens are the final fourth-year options for the players and Aldrich’s was a third-year, meaning he’ll have one more (well, assuming the new CBA doesn’t change that.)
I’ve already heard some saying, “What, why Mullens?” It’s true: The Thunder’s 24th pick in 2009 that turned into Mullens hasn’t panned out yet. The seven-foot big man from Ohio State has gone up and down between the Thunder and the D-League, hasn’t ever come close to sniffing the rotation and has largely disappointed.
But he was a project from day one. There was never any expectation of him than to get into the program and see if his raw talent could develop. So far, not so much. But he’s extremely cheap (his option will cost OKC just about $1.2 next season) and in terms of a roster spot, I think he’s worth it.
Keep in mind, Mullens is just 22 and despite what you may think of him and his awkward haircut, still has a ton of upside. He has a pretty solid jumper, crazy athleticism for his size and the desire to get better. He just has to figure out how to help defend, rebound and make an impact.
He has ability. I’ve seen it. He can play. He just lacks a little feel for the game and isn’t entirely sure of himself. But it’s hard to really prove much when you’re lucky if you get two minutes in a 25-point game. Clearly though he hasn’t made the strides in practice quite yet to please the Thunder.
It’s a no-brainer to exercise his option and see if he can progress a bit this year. Yeah they could’ve declined it and opened up an extra roster spot and a sliver more of cap space, but in my mind, the risking missing out on Mullens’ raw, undeveloped potential isn’t worth that.
I don’t know that he’ll necessarily ever make a real impact for OKC. I have a hard time picturing him in the regular rotation. But Sam Presti hasn’t built his franchise around the idea that you give up on young players that are willing to work hard. And that’s why you don’t give up on Mullens.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2011/06...ions-on-five-players-including-byron-mullens/
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Buckskin86
Moderator
Thunder's Byron Mullens signs with team in Greece
BY DARNELL MAYBERRY, Staff Writer, [email protected] Comment on this article 1
Published: September 21, 2011
Thunder center Byron Mullens has signed with the Greek basketball club Panionios, becoming the first Thunder player to circumvent the NBA lockout by heading overseas.
NBA BASKETBALL TEAM: BYRON MULLENS poses for a photo during the Oklahoma City Thunder media day on Monday, Sept. 27, 2010, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Mullens' contract allows him to return to the NBA whenever the lockout is lifted, meaning he won't miss a second of the Thunder's season ? if there is a season.
In a Q&A with The Oklahoman just hours before leaving for Greece on Wednesday, Mullens talked about his decision to play overseas, whether he thinks more Thunder players will follow suit and the joy of married life.
Q: How did this deal happen?
A: Basically I was pretty much just waiting to hear about what's going on with the lockout and was talking to my agent about it. And we decided to see if we could get a deal going overseas to play. I've been working out all summer. We thought it'd be best to just get a different feel. You can only get better to a certain point working out by yourself.
What was appealing about playing overseas?
Just the experience. There's probably not going to be an opportunity to go over and see Athens, Greece. Aside from just going over and getting the experience of playing basketball, I'll also get to experience going over there and seeing another country. It didn't really matter where it was, I was going to jump on it either way.
Did you have any other offers?
Yeah. We had a few other teams. But we were kind of sitting around waiting to hear from them. But when we heard from the team in Greece, they were kind of 100 percent (in) with their deal. So we just took that one.
Have you ever been to Greece?
Nope. This is my first time.
What are you most looking forward to, the city or the team or just the atmosphere?
All the above, really. One of my college teammates is over there playing with them now. So I'm kind of looking forward to teaming up with him again.
So you already know some of your new teammates?
Yeah, Jon Diebler. We played at Ohio State together. And Zisis Sarikopoulos. He played at Ohio State. He's from Greece.
How much better do you feel like you got before signing with Panionios?
I feel a lot better. I've been working out with a lot of trainers this summer. I've been back at Ohio State working out with those guys, with (Buckeyes assistant coach) Chris Jent and my trainer Michael Thornton. I've been working on a lot of stuff, shooting dribbling, really all the above. I'm just really looking forward to playing in an actual game instead of open gym and working out by myself.
Do you get the impression that more of your Thunder teammates may try to sign overseas?
I'm not really sure. I know our team is doing our own thing, getting together in Austin and getting together in Louisville next week. Some of the guys on our team have been in the league for a little bit, and they've got their name out there. They're playing and getting the time they want. So it's kind of up to me. I'm going over there to get (playing) time and playing experience and just make a name for myself.
With the lockout, is there one issue that's most important to you as a player in negotiations?
I just want to get back, get back in Oklahoma. Whatever we have to do to do it. I'm not really going to talk about the situation and what we need to do or what needs to happen, but we just need to get back to the court.
You recently got married. How's that been so far?
Married life is great. I'm enjoying it. This is a trip for both of us. She's going out there with me. A little apartment in Greece will be our first home. So this is going to be a trip to remember.
Read more: http://newsok.com/thunders-byron-mullens-signs-with-team-in-greece/article/3606329#ixzz1Yg6dHzfS
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Mullens and Diebler are already listed a "top players" on the team:
http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=gre&Team=273
http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=gre&Team=273
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