By Josh Cohen

It’s as refreshing as stepping outside on a beautiful sunshine day after a full week of torrential downpours, thunderstorms, hurricane-like winds or any other form of miserable weather conditions.

NBA fanatics have awaited the return of basketball action since the completion of the NBA Finals, and on Monday, they got the opportunity to watch some exciting summer battles, dazzling individual performances and exhilarating dunks and plays.

Rising sensations, including Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson, Oklahoma City’s Byron Mullens and Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday, flourished on opening day of the 2010 AirTran Airways Pro Summer League.

Henderson, for one, was as proficient with his offensive repertoire as a successful standup comic is spitting out timely jokes. The former Duke standout registered 20 points in the Bobcats’ victory over the Jazz.

Mullens, similarly, thrived for OKC – racking up 24 points in the Thunder’s triumph over the Celtics and Holiday collected 23 points to lead the Sixers past the Nets. Evan Turner pitched in 12 points in his NBA debut.

Several rookies, including New Jersey’s Derrick Favors, Utah’s Gordon Hayward and Indiana’s Paul George, got their first taste of NBA action and each showed moments of excellence.

It will be fascinating to see some of these young players continue to get more work in as so many former college, international and D-League stars strive to make an NBA roster.

By Dan Savage

It’s rare that a Hall-of-Fame basketball player has a son, who also makes his way into the NBA. It’s even more of an oddity when that Hall-of-Famer has the opportunity to coach one of his children at the league level.

However, that’s the situation that Patrick Ewing and Patrick Ewing Jr. are currently in. The Hall of Fame center and Magic assistant coach had the chance to direct his son from the sideline on Monday as Orlando battled Indiana in the opening day of AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League.

While the Magic didn’t fare so well, falling 86-77 to the Pacers, the younger Ewing shined brightly under the guidance of his father. In his first professional action since recovering from knee surgery, he fired off a team-high 15 points, nine of which came in the second half.

“I thought (coaching him) would be a lot harder than it was,” Ewing Sr. said. “Today, I thought he played very well for us.”

Although you might think the coach’s son would catch a break or two, Ewing Jr. said his father still had plenty to say from the sideline.

“Oh yeah, he was (yelling at me) all the time,” he said with a smile. “He was telling me to get back on defense, take my open shots when I have them and not force shots.”

Watch Postgame Interviews: Father | Son

By Josh Cohen

Each player at Summer League wants to make lasting impressions on coaches, general managers and scouts. It’s obviously very competitive and occasionally self-indulging.

But, one of the essential purposes of this week-long event is to teach the players the importance of teamwork and winning. Although the majority of the participants at the 2010 AirTran Pro Summer League will not play for NBA franchises next season, each player wants to learn what it takes to succeed as a unit.

Besides analyzing each competitor’s skills and potential as an individual, spectators want to see how each player coexists with others. They want to see, for example, youngsters set rock-solid screens, dish out efficient passes and help their teammates defensively on pick-and-rolls.

There were several outstanding demonstrations of teamwork on Monday. Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson and Derrick Brown, Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner and Oklahoma City’s Eric Maynor and James Harden, for instance, exhibited extremely effective chemistry.

The assumption, furthermore, would be that players wouldn’t completely care if their team’s won or not. That is evidently not the cast at all.

It was very clear the amount of heart, courage and determination all of these competitors had on Day One. Frequently, players were seen scrambling on the floor for loose balls, racing back on defense in transition to block or alter shots and battling with opponents for control. Two players, Indiana’s Josh McRoberts and Orlando’s Daniel Orton, were ejected for their scuffle.

By Josh Cohen

Experience is as important in sports as signaling for a left or right turn is in driving. Without experience, there are generally more mistakes and “accidents.”

It was very evident that the players who had at least one year’s experience in the NBA were much more persuasive than the rookies or prospects that have played in the D-League or overseas the last few years.

Philadelphia’s Jrue Holiday and Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson, for example, showed why a year playing against the best competition in the world catapults their status and presentation. Holiday registered 23 points in the 76ers’ triumph and Henderson poured in 20 for the Bobcats’ victory.

Unlike most first year players who are still playing at a college-level speed, the experienced Summer League participants are much more crisp and influential. They are able to control the game with their court awareness and alacrity.

Like the familiar saying goes: “Practice makes perfect.” There is no question that after a year ‘s worth of rugged, exhausting and intricate NBA practices and games, competitors are much more equipped to play at a superior level.

In addition, an experienced NBA player has already had the privilege of utilizing the best trainers, weight room facilities and dieticians to enhance their strength, conditioning and nutrition.

It is very essential for the rookies to take advice from their seasoned teammates and learn what it takes to compete in the league.

By Dan Savage

Each day the daily buzz will give you a few of the top quick hits from the AirTran Airways Orlando Pro Summer League:

It’s been a long time since Kevin Durant needed to play in a Summer League. But that doesn’t mean the perennial MVP candidate is now above popping in to support his teammates. Durantula flew in to Orlando to watch and practice with the Thunder. He also found time to stop in the league’s break room and grab an Italian ice, which he called “the bomb.”

If you had any doubts about eight-time All-Star Vince Carter’s love for the game of basketball, they were erased on Monday. Vinsanity watched all four Summer League games with intense focus from start to finish. He also shared some words of wisdom to Patrick Ewing Jr. and Orlando’s first round pick Daniel Orton.

It’s safe to say Orton’s Magic debut didn’t go as planned. The big man out of Kentucky went a dismal 1-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-4 from the charity stripe. His first contest in an Orlando uniform was also cut short after he got into an on-the-court incident with Indiana’s Josh McRoberts and was ejected from the game. However that didn’t stop him from finishing the contest on the Twit-o-sphere.

There were a few telltale signs that it was Summer League in Orlando. 1) The best all-you-can-eat buffet in all of sports was in our lobby. 2) There were two fouls within the first 14 seconds of the first game. 3) You could hear pouring rain and thunder echo through the RDV Sportsplex during the Nets matchup against the 76ers.