Green and Durant have known each other as acquaintances for the past three years, but in the past two months, they have spent nearly as much time together as apart. The Maryland natives became teammates June 28 when the Seattle SuperSonics selected Durant with the No. 2 pick in the NBA draft then made a trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire the former Georgetown star Green, the fifth pick.
Since then, they've played on the SuperSonics' summer league team and spent the past week participating in Team USA's preparations for the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center. The United States needs to finish first or second to qualify for Beijing.
Green and Durant are in Las Vegas for different reasons -- Green was invited as a member of a 10-man select team of young NBA players to scrimmage with members of the men's senior national team while Durant was on the bubble for the official 12-man roster before being cut with Nick Collison late Monday night -- but they have breakfast together each morning and have eaten dinner together a few times, since both players are too young to partake in all that Las Vegas has to offer.
Both players appear to have remained grounded and humble despite the drastic changes in their basketball lives and bank accounts in recent weeks. They became millionaires when they signed NBA contracts last month, and Durant hit the jackpot when he signed a seven-year, $60 million shoe deal -- which included a $10 million signing bonus -- with Nike. "I'm the same person I was before I got drafted," Durant said. "When I really put that Sonics jersey on and play my first game, I'm going to feel a little different."
Green turns 21 next week, so he has stayed clear of the casinos and the clubs in Sin City -- "I don't go out and party anyway," he said, but he hasn't even tried to watch any of the elaborate shows. "Too expensive," Green said. "I can't live the lavish life yet. I haven't done anything yet, to make a name for myself. I'm not trying to get too far ahead of myself."
Green said his only indulgence was purchasing a car. "It's something I need," he said, declining to name the make and model.
Green and Houston's Aaron Brooks were the only rookies to be chosen for the select team, and Green viewed it as more affirmation of his decision to leave Georgetown after his junior season. Matching up with superstars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony the past week in practice has been "the highlight of my NBA life so far," Green said.
Green finished his service to the country after the final practice Monday and planned to go to Seattle to find a place to stay. He hasn't decided whether to buy a house or rent an apartment, with the SuperSonics' future in the city still in limbo. Durant is in the process of closing on a home in the Seattle area.
Since then, they've played on the SuperSonics' summer league team and spent the past week participating in Team USA's preparations for the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which begins Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center. The United States needs to finish first or second to qualify for Beijing.
Green and Durant are in Las Vegas for different reasons -- Green was invited as a member of a 10-man select team of young NBA players to scrimmage with members of the men's senior national team while Durant was on the bubble for the official 12-man roster before being cut with Nick Collison late Monday night -- but they have breakfast together each morning and have eaten dinner together a few times, since both players are too young to partake in all that Las Vegas has to offer.
Both players appear to have remained grounded and humble despite the drastic changes in their basketball lives and bank accounts in recent weeks. They became millionaires when they signed NBA contracts last month, and Durant hit the jackpot when he signed a seven-year, $60 million shoe deal -- which included a $10 million signing bonus -- with Nike. "I'm the same person I was before I got drafted," Durant said. "When I really put that Sonics jersey on and play my first game, I'm going to feel a little different."
Green turns 21 next week, so he has stayed clear of the casinos and the clubs in Sin City -- "I don't go out and party anyway," he said, but he hasn't even tried to watch any of the elaborate shows. "Too expensive," Green said. "I can't live the lavish life yet. I haven't done anything yet, to make a name for myself. I'm not trying to get too far ahead of myself."
Green said his only indulgence was purchasing a car. "It's something I need," he said, declining to name the make and model.
Green and Houston's Aaron Brooks were the only rookies to be chosen for the select team, and Green viewed it as more affirmation of his decision to leave Georgetown after his junior season. Matching up with superstars such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony the past week in practice has been "the highlight of my NBA life so far," Green said.
Green finished his service to the country after the final practice Monday and planned to go to Seattle to find a place to stay. He hasn't decided whether to buy a house or rent an apartment, with the SuperSonics' future in the city still in limbo. Durant is in the process of closing on a home in the Seattle area.
No comments:
Post a Comment