On the same day Texas’ Kevin Durant became the first freshman to win the Wooden Award, Draft Express reports the 6’9″ swingman will announce his entry into the NBA Draft within a few days.
In an unrelated story, the Boston Celtics — having dressed a league minimum nine players for their last 5 games — have announced that players will have to find their own transportation to this evening’s game in Indianapolis.
The Rocky Mountain News’ Julie Poppen warns those thinking of calling Carmelo Anthony a punk are likely to get a punch in the schnozz. Not from ‘Melo himself, mind you, who was only interested in discussing the Nuggets’ win last night over Dallas.
The Fanhouse’s Marcel Mutoni wonders why Rick Barry is on the outside looking in when it comes to NBA coaching gigs, while “teams insist on recycling the same coaches (Flip Saunders, Eric Musselman, Rick Adelman, Larry Brown, etc.) instead of giving others a chance to prove themselves.”
It’s a fair enough question, and considering it has been nearly 26 years since Barry referred to Bill Russell’s “big watermelon smile” on live television, it does seem like the legend-in-his-own-mind deserves a chance. For one thing, few of the players are old enough to remember the above incident. And if a combative personality precludes success in the Association, just try to pry the ’06/07 Coach Of The Year Award from Sam Mitchell’s fighting hands.