On any given night, the Nike Pro City League at Baruch College features several NBA players, plus a mix of other pro and college players going at it before capacity crowds of about 2,000 fans.

On Tuesday night, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder went mano-a-mano with John Lucas III of the Chicago Bulls (pictured courtesy New York Times). Lucas III, out of Oklahoma State, poured in a game-high 60 points to Durant’s 41, but Durant led The Franchise to a 146-143 overtime victory.

Roy Hibbert of the Indiana Pacers (13 points, 15 rebounds) and Sundiata Gaines of the Nets (18 points) also played for The Franchise.

Ron Artest, Al Harrington, Danny Green, Lance Stephenson, MarShon Brooks, Andre Barrett and Smush Parker have also competed at Baruch this summer. Jimmer Fredette may turn up Thursday night.

“New York City is kind of the Mecca for basketball and I just had to come up here and try to show these people my skills and hopefully make them into Thunder fans,” Durant said before the game.

With no NBA summer leagues in Las Vegas and Orlando because of the lockout, the pros are competing in other summer leagues and Pro Ams to get their run in while they weigh whether or not to play overseas.

Games are played Tuesday and Thursday nights, and the playoffs begin Aug. 9.

Even the officials are NBA refs. Zach Zarba, who has eight years in the NBA under his belt, worked the Durant-Lucas III game.

“I think it’s a very talented league,” Gaines said of the Baruch league. “A lot of pros come out here and play on a regular basis. This week it might be Kevin. We had Ron [Artest] play out there. It might be NBA guys coming in, as well as some good overseas guys as well.”

Durant previously told SNY.tv he was “50/50″ on going to Europe if the lockout stretches into the season, and Hibbert and Gaines echoed similar sentiments.

“It’s a last-ditch effort if it comes down to that, but there’s nothing like playing in the States so I’d rather play here,” Hibbert said.

Gaines, who has one year left on his deal with the Nets, also said he’s waiting to see what happens.

“I’m not sure yet,” he said. “If it comes around that time and we’re still in a lockout, I’m always considering my options. I got my options open.”

Three of his Nets teammates have already signed to play overseas, Deron Williams and Sasha Vujacic in Turkey and Jordan Farmar in Israel.

The crowd was so packed into the gym Tuesday night that Kentucky guard Doron Lamb was refused entrance and former Kentucky star Jamal Mashburn had to watch through windows from upstairs.

The announcer behind the mic let loose with a non-stop barrage of comments, at one point telling the crowd, “This is the greatest summer league game of your life.”

While everyone came to see Durant, Lucas III, all 5 feet, 11 inches of him, was the star of the show with his 60 points.

“I scored 75 before, and that was a high school game,” Lucas III said. “In an atmosphere like this, it’s the most.”

Lucas III said he enjoyed going back and forth with Durant, who scored a 3-pointer from the left wing to force overtime.

“We boys and we were teammates and we always talk noise to each other, and I really think I can out-shoot him but he thinks he’s the best shooter,” Lucas III said. “So it was just all about us playing competition and something to keep the grudge going.”

So as long as the lockout continues, expect to see the pros playing at Baruch and leagues like around the country like it.

“You can’t ask for any better competition with a locked-out league like this than all these guys in one,” Lucas III said. “There were four or five NBA guys on the court, and then two NBA referees….So you can’t ask for anything better.”

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Now the two former NBA players are looking to transition into coaching.

Alston, 34, was just hired as the new head coach at Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center, replacing former coach Carlos Wilson, who’s headed to coach at Tyler Junior College.

“I’ve had a good career, long career, 11 years,” Alston said of a career that included stops in six NBA cities and a stint in China. “I had fun. I can’t complain about my NBA career. It’s been wonderful.”

Alston, the former Cardozo High star known as “Skip to My Lou,” said he wasn’t ruling out a possible return to playing professionally overseas or in the NBA, but he realizes that is unlikely.

“I’ve had offers,” he said. “Overseas is always an option. This summer some offers are going to come along at some point. People can always use a point guard.”

Still, he added, “Getting one more year older and doing this job, the chances are slim to none.”

Christian Life Center has produced some noteworthy players in recent years. Kansas commit Ben McLemore landed there this spring after being dismissed from Oak Hill Academy for a violation of team rules.

And onetime Memphis commit Latavious Williams played there before choosing the NBA-D League over a more lucrative offer in China.

Alston, who played for the nearby Houston Rockets for four years, is just looking to give back to the current players.

“We have about four or five guys that played [last year],” he said. “Some kids that didn’t play that much. There are a good amount of people coming back and then we have to add on. But it should be no problem getting the kids to play together and work together.”

Senior Pastor Richard Rodriguez of Christian Life Center said Alston was chosen over several other former NBA and college players for the job.

“We had a number of NBA and college players from all around the world,” he said by phone. “One thing that Rafer offers is he’s a one of a kind. He made it from streetball all the way through college to the NBA and Europe. “He’s been at every level. He’s been to where our guys aspire to make it.

“He’s raised a family here in Houston and he wants to help these kids out and I think he’ll do a good job. He’ll bring experience and his example will be good for these kids to follow.”

Anderson, 40, is a former Archbishop Molloy star who last played in the NBA in 2005 before doing a brief stint in Lithuania.

A former Georgia Tech star who was the No. 2 pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, Anderson has been in touch with new Miami coach Jim Larranaga and new N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried about possible positions on their staffs.

Anderson and Alston are friendly and Anderson said he would also consider going the high school route like Alston.

“I was looking into that, too, one of these prep schools,” Anderson said. “I would even love to do that, if it was top credit high school.”

Until then, Anderson must wait for the right opportunity to begin the next phase of his life.

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

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Derrick Rose

James was the lone unanimous choice, receiving all 119 first-place votes. Joining
James and Rose on the First Team are Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

Earning his first All-NBA team selection, Rose led the Bulls to an NBA-best
62-20 mark. He averaged team highs of 25.0 points and 7.7 assists to go
along with 4.1 rebounds, becoming only the seventh player in NBA history to
average at least 25.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds. Rose was the
only player in the NBA to rank in the top 10 in scoring (seventh) and
assists (10th).

James, who earns First Team honors for the fourth straight season and fifth
time overall, was second in the NBA in scoring (26.7 ppg), and averaged
team highs in assists (7.0 apg) and steals (1.57 spg) to go along with 7.5
rpg. James became the first player in history to surpass the 2,000-point,
500-rebound, 500-assist and 100-steal marks in four consecutive seasons.

Howard, an All-NBA First Team selection for the fourth consecutive season,
earned the 2010-11 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first player to win the award three straight seasons. He led the league
with 66 double-doubles, while ranking second in rebounds (14.1 rpg) and
fourth in blocks (2.38 bpg). Howard also averaged a career-high 22.9
points.

Bryant, an All-NBA First Team selection for the sixth straight season and
ninth time in his career, finished fifth in the league in scoring (25.3
ppg), while averaging 5.1 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Among active players,
Bryant is tied with the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan for most First Team
selections.

Durant earns his second All-NBA First Team selection. Durant led the league
in scoring (27.7 ppg) for the second consecutive year, to go along with 6.8
rebounds and 2.7 assists. Durant scored at least 40 in a league-high five
games this season.

The All-NBA Second Team consists of guards Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder, forwards Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks, and center Amar’e Stoudemire of the Knicks.

The All-NBA Third Team includes the San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili and the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul at guard, the Portland Trail Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge and the Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Randolph at forward, and the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford at center.

The All-NBA Teams were chosen by a panel of 119 sportswriters and
broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada.
Below are the results of the voting for the 2010-11 All-NBA Teams, with
First Team votes in parentheses:

2010-11 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

Position      Player, Team (1st Team Votes)   Points
Forward      LeBron James, Miami (119)        595
Forward      Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City (69)           492
Center         Dwight Howard, Orlando (118)    593
Guard         Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers (98)     551
Guard         Derrick Rose, Chicago (118)       593

2010-11 ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

Position      Player, Team (1st Team Votes)   Points
Forward      Pau Gasol, L.A. Lakers (2)         259
Forward      Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas (47)            437
Center         Amar’e Stoudemire, New York (2)           258
Guard         Dwyane Wade, Miami (24)          392
Guard         Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City         184

2010-11 ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

Position      Player, Team (1st Team Votes)   Points
Forward      LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland      135
Forward      Zach Randolph, Memphis          67
Center         Al Horford, Atlanta        62
Guard   Manu Ginobili, San Antonio        106 Guard
Chris Paul, New Orleans       157

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first team votes in
parentheses): Rajon Rondo, Boston, 68; Paul Pierce, Boston, 55; Carmelo
Anthony, Denver-New York, 53; Kevin Love, Minnesota, 48; Tim Duncan, San Antonio, 43; Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers, 36; Tony Parker, San Antonio,
27; Kevin Garnett, Boston, 22; Deron Williams, Utah-New Jersey 19; Steve
Nash, Phoenix, 17; Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 13; Monta Ellis, Golden State,
11; Nene, Denver, 11; Andrew Bynum, L.A. Lakers, 9; Kevin Martin, Houston,
7; Tyson Chandler, Dallas, 7; Joakim Noah, Chicago, 5; Marc Gasol,
Memphis, 3; Al Jefferson, Utah, 3; Kendrick Perkins, Boston-Oklahoma City,
3; Andrea Bargnani, Toronto, 2; Chris Bosh, Miami, 2; Andre Iguodala,
Philadelphia, 1; Emeka Okafor, New Orleans, 1; Eric Gordon, L.A. Clippers,
1; Gerald Wallace, Charlotte-Portland, 1; Jason Kidd, Dallas, 1; Luis
Scola, Houston, 1; Luol Deng, Chicago, 1;  Ray Allen, Boston, 1

(Release courtesy NBA)

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Police in San Juan said in a statement the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Traylor was found on the bedroom floor of his oceanfront apartment.

Traylor was taken by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 6 pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks for Pat Garrity and German prospect Dirk Nowitzki.

After stints with the Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets and Cavs again, Traylor then signed with the Nets for the 2005-06 season, but failed a physical.

Traylor battled obesity and a heart defect that required surgery on his aorta in 2006.

He played professionally in Turkey, Italy, and Puerto Rico while continuing to struggle with his weight. He was the MVP of the Turkish All-Star Game in 2009, and was named defensive player of the year in Puerto Rico in 2010.

(The AP contributed)

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San Antonio vs. Memphis

Game 1 - Sun April 17 Memphis at San Antonio	12:00PM	1:00PM	TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20 Memphis at San Antonio	7:30PM	8:30PM	NBA TV
Game 3 - Sat April 23 San Antonio at Memphis	6:30PM	7:30PM	ESPN
Game 4 - Mon April 25 San Antonio at Memphis	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 5 * Wed April 27 Memphis at San Antonio	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29 San Antonio at Memphis	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1 Memphis at San Antonio	TBD TBD	TBD

L.A. Lakers vs. New Orleans

Game 1 - Sun April 17 New Orleans at L.A. Lakers 12:30PM 3:30PM	ABC/R
Game 2 - Wed April 20 New Orleans at L.A. Lakers 7:30PM 10:30PM	TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22 L.A. Lakers at New Orleans 8:30PM 9:30PM	ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24 L.A. Lakers at New Orleans 8:30PM 9:30PM	TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26 New Orleans at L.A. Lakers TBD	 TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28 L.A. Lakers at New Orleans TBD	 TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30 New Orleans at L.A. Lakers TBD	 TBD	TNT

Dallas vs. Portland

Game 1 - Sat April 16 Portland at Dallas	8:30PM	9:30PM	ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19 Portland at Dallas	8:30PM	9:30PM	TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21 Dallas at Portland 7:30PM	10:30PM	TNT
Game 4 - Sat April 23 Dallas at Portland	2:00PM	5:00PM	TNT
Game 5 * Mon April 25 Portland at Dallas	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28 Dallas at Portland	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30 Portland at Dallas	TBD	TBD	TNT

Oklahoma City vs. Denver

Game 1 - Sun April 17 Denver at Oklahoma City	8:30PM	9:30PM	TNT
Game 2 - Wed April 20 Denver at Oklahoma City	7:00PM	8:00PM	TNT
Game 3 - Sat April 23 Oklahoma City at Denver	8:00PM	10:00PM	ESPN/R
Game 4 - Mon April 25 Oklahoma City at Denver	8:30PM	10:30PM	TNT
Game 5 * Wed April 27 Denver at Oklahoma City	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29 Oklahoma City at Denver	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1 Denver at Oklahoma City	TBD	TBD	TBD

Eastern Conference

Chicago vs. Indiana

Game 1 - Sat April 16 Indiana at Chicago	12:00PM	1:00PM
ESPN/ESPN3D
Game 2 - Mon April 18 Indiana at Chicago	8:30PM	9:30PM	TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21 Chicago at Indiana	7:00PM	7:00PM	NBA TV
Game 4 - Sat April 23 Chicago at Indiana	2:30PM	2:30PM	TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26 Indiana at Chicago	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28 Chicago at Indiana	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30 Indiana at Chicago	TBD TBD	TNT

Miami vs. Philadelphia

Game 1 - Sat April 16 Philadelphia at Miami	3:30PM	3:30PM	ABC/R
Game 2 - Mon April 18 Philadelphia at Miami	7:00PM	7:00PM	TNT
Game 3 - Thu April 21 Miami at Philadelphia	8:00PM	8:00PM	TNT
Game 4 - Sun April 24 Miami at Philadelphia	1:00PM	1:00PM	ABC
Game 5 * Wed April 27 Philadelphia at Miami	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29 Miami at Philadelphia	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1 Philadelphia at Miami	TBD	TBD	TBD

Boston vs. New York

Game 1 - Sun April 17 New York at Boston	7:00PM	7:00PM	TNT
Game 2 - Tue April 19 New York at Boston	7:00PM	7:00PM	TNT
Game 3 - Fri April 22 Boston at New York 7:00PM	7:00PM	ESPN
Game 4 - Sun April 24 Boston at New York	3:30PM	3:30PM	ABC/R
Game 5 * Tue April 26 New York at Boston	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Fri April 29 Boston at New York	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sun May 1 New York at Boston	TBD	TBD	TBD

Orlando vs. Atlanta

Game 1 - Sat April 16 Atlanta at Orlando	7:00PM	7:00PM	ESPN
Game 2 - Tue April 19 Atlanta at Orlando	7:30PM	7:30PM	NBA TV
Game 3 - Fri April 22 Orlando at Atlanta	8:00PM	8:00PM
ESPN2/ESPN3D
Game 4 - Sun April 24 Orlando at Atlanta	7:00PM	7:00PM	TNT
Game 5 * Tue April 26 Atlanta at Orlando	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 6 * Thu April 28 Orlando at Atlanta	TBD	TBD	TBD
Game 7 * Sat April 30 Atlanta at Orlando	TBD	TBD	TNT

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“Kobe Bryant’s comment during last night’s game was offensive and
inexcusable,” NBA Commissioner David Stern said.

“While I’m fully aware that basketball is an emotional game, such a distasteful term should never be tolerated.  Accordingly, I have
fined Kobe $100,000.  Kobe and everyone associated with the NBA know that insensitive or derogatory comments are not acceptable and have no place in our game or society.”

Bryant receiving his 15th technical foul of the season during Tuesday’s game with San Antonio and yelled at referee Bennie Adams before apparently uttering the anti-gay slur.

Bryant said later in a statement that “what I said last night should not be taken literally. My actions were out of frustration during the heat of the game, period. The words expressed do NOT reflect my feelings towards the gay and lesbian communities and were NOT meant to offend anyone.”

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The participants in the Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam were selected
by the NBA’s assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.

Joining  Evans  on  the Sophomore team are: San Antonio Spurs center DeJuan Blair, Golden  State  Warriors  guard Stephen Curry, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar  DeRozan,  Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson, Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue  Holiday,  Oklahoma City Thunder forward/center Serge Ibaka, Milwaukee Bucks  guard  Brandon  Jennings, and  Portland  Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews.

Washington  Wizards  guard  John  Wall,  the  top selection in the 2010 NBA
Draft,  joins  Griffin  on  the  Rookie team, which also includes: Clippers
guard Eric  Bledsoe,  Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, Nets forward Derrick Favors, Knicks guard Landry Fields, Minnesota Timberwolves  guard Wesley Johnson, Detroit Pistons center Greg Monroe, and San Antonio Spurs guard Gary Neal.

Last  year  in  Dallas,  the  Rookies  won  for  the first time since 2002.
Sacramento’s  Evans earned Rookie  Challenge  MVP honors after
recording  26 points, six rebounds and five assists in the Rookies’ 140-128
win.

The  head  coaches  for  the  Rookie  and  Sophomore teams will be the lead
assistants from the 2011 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

The  Spurs coaching staff earned the right to lead the West All-Stars last week;
assistant  coach  Mike  Budenholzer will  lead  the  Rookie team. Celtics coach Doc Rivers will coach the East All-Stars.

Assistant coaches for the Rookies are All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire of the   Knicks and NBA TV/TNT analyst Kevin McHale. The assistant coaches for
the  Sophomores  are All-Star Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets and TNT NBA basketball analyst Steve Kerr.

The Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam will be televised live nationally
on  TNT  at  9 p.m. ET and also will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio, while
NBA.com will make live audio available to fans in multiple languages.

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NEW YORK

And Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George, too.

“I think a lot of times the young guys are going to be the ones that help you win the most,” Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel said Sunday, according to the Indy Star. “I can’t play all 15 guys. That’s one of the challenges of being a head coach.

“I think our fans should be excited. This is going to be an exciting part of the second half of the year.”

Former coach Jim O’Brien publicly criticized Hibbert and Stephenson, which was part of the reason Pacers president Larry Bird made the change.

“You look at some of our players, especially Roy, it looks like he’s down,” Bird said. “He’s not running around having a good time like he was earlier. … He’s very important to this franchise and we’ve got to have him playing on a high level.”

Earlier this month, O’Brien took a shot at the 6-foot-5 Stephenson, too.

“If I thought we could be better if I played Lance, I would,” O’Brien said, according to NBA.com. “That’s not my opinion.”

Stephenson won four PSAL titles at Brooklyn Lincoln and became New York State”s all-time scoring leader before being named Big East Rookie of the Year in his one season at Cincinnati.

He has struggled with off-court issues and last summer was arrested for pushing his daughter’s mother down a flight of stairs.

After being selected 40th overall by the Pacers in last summer’s draft, he has yet to play in a game for Indiana.

“I just have to learn how to be at the right spot at the right time,” he told ZAGSBLOG contributor Mike Vorkunov earlier this month at MSG.

“Everybody knows I can score and get to the basket but on the defensive side, where to be at and how to help my teammates when the ball is on the other side. Just learning that, I think I’ll be good and getting better at it.”

He added: “Every day in practice, I try to do something to learn something different or add something  to my game. Every day is a learning experience for me.”

Now he may finally get a chance to a play.

“Larry Bird stated his position clearly,” Alberto Ebanks, Stephenson’s agent, said by text. “He and I both want to see Lance play and it appears that it will happen.”

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Less than halfway into his rookie season in the NBA, his Sacramento Kings club has won just 9 games while losing 28.

“It’s been a tough process,” the 6-foot-11 Cousins said after putting up 16 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in the Kings’ 93-83 win Friday over the Knicks at MSG.

“I don’t want to say I’m getting used to it because nobody wants to get used to losing. I’m kind of taking a positive take to it. I mean, I know we’re growing as a team, we’re a young team, we’re full of potential. Let’s just get better every game and that’s what we’re doing.”

Prior to last summer’s NBA Draft, Cousins was knocked for his immaturity and unpredictability. He still angers and annoys some fans when he rolls his eyes and complains on foul calls.

“He would admit himself that he has quite a bit of maturing to do,” Kings coach Paul Westphal said. “But it’s basically born out of passion. He cares so much and if some play goes against him, he has a short fuse. And he’s got to learn how to add more poise to his game and he’s doing a better job of that all the time.’

The No. 5 pick in the Draft, Cousins is averaging 12.8 points and 7.7 rebounds on the season. Over his last 10 games, he’s averaged 16.5 points and 8.7 boards. He hasn’t fouled out in his last 13 games.

“He’s progressing great,” Westphal said of Cousins. “He’s going to have some games where he doesn’t shoot the ball well, like [Friday] he had a few turnovers and missed some easy shots and was impatient sometimes. But that’s all part of the learning process.

“He’s a fearless competitor. He always wants to be in the game, and he’s always battling.”

Other than his former teammate John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick, none of the players selected ahead of Cousins are contributing as much as the former Kentucky big man.

Evan Turner, the No. 2 pick, is averaging 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds with Philadelphia.

No. 3 pick Derrick Favors averages 6.7 points and 5.0 rebounds with the Nets.

And Wesley Johnson, the No. 4 pick by Minnesota, averages 9.1 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Cousins said he talks to Wall and former teammate Eric Bledsoe of the Clippers on a regular basis.

“We really just talk about ourselves individually,” Cousins said of Wall. “He’ll tell me what I need to work on and I’ll be like, ‘Yeah, you need to do this.’ We really just say what we think we need to do when we see each other play. Same thing with Eric.”

One thing Cousins needs to work on is balance.

“A lot of my shots, I’m off balance,” he said.

“He’s just got to learn a little bit of patience and get on better balance sometimes,” Westphal added. “Sometimes he hurries.”

As he’s made the transition from college to the NBA, Cousins has been impressed by the quality of talent in the pros. He’s especially awed by Blake Griffin, Bledsoe’s teammate with the Clippers.

“Everybody who’s got that name, they’re legit,” Cousins said. “There’s no fakes in this league. There’s no fakes.”

As for his former college team, Cousins admits he hasn’t had much of a chance to see the Wildcats, who now feature a new group of potential one-and-done stars in Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb.

“I really haven’t,” he said. “I wish I could. I mean I don’t know even know when their games [are] playing anymore. We’re just so busy now.”

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Each of the four participants will work with a former player to create and practice dunks.

Griffin will match up with TNT analyst and two-time Slam Dunk participant (1990, 1991) Kenny Smith; Jennings will practice with NBA Legend Darryl Dawkins; McGee will work with NBA TV/TNT analyst and five-time NBA All-Star Chris Webber; and Ibaka will prepare with Thunder teammate and 2009-10 NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant.

Fans will be able to keep up with the latest development in the series, “Slam Dunk: Countdown to the Contest,” which will tip off Thursday and will run through the week of the event, by viewing the latest weekly episodes at NBA.com/Dunk.

Fans will again have the opportunity to determine the winner of the Sprite Slam Dunk as part of the “They Dunk. You Decide” campaign.

The two dunkers with the highest first round scores will advance to the final round. The dunker with the lowest total score from the first round will compete first in the final round. Dunks then will alternate until each player has completed two. Time limit rules still apply.

Below is a list of previous Sprite Slam Dunk winners:

SPRITE SLAM DUNK YEAR-BY-YEAR WINNERS

1984—Larry Nance, Phoenix
1985—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1986—Spud Webb, Atlanta
1987—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1988—Michael Jordan, Chicago
1989—Kenny Walker, New York
1990—Dominique Wilkins, Atlanta
1991—Dee Brown, Boston
1992—Cedric Ceballos, Phoenix
1993—Harold Miner, Miami
1994—Isaiah Rider, Minnesota
1995—Harold Miner, Miami
1996—Brent Barry, L.A. Clippers
1997—Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
2000—Vince Carter, Toronto
2001—Desmond Mason, Seattle
2002—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2003—Jason Richardson, Golden State
2004—Fred Jones, Indiana
2005—Josh Smith, Atlanta
2006—Nate Robinson, New York
2007—Gerald Green, Boston
2008—Dwight Howard, Orlando
2009—Nate Robinson, New York
2010—Nate Robinson, New York

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