OKLAHOMA CITY, October 25, 2010 – The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised third-year options on guard James Harden, forward Serge Ibaka, guard Eric Maynor and center Byron Mullens, as well as fourth-year options on guard Russell Westbrook and forward D.J. White, Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today.
Harden (6-5, 220) averaged 9.9 points (8th among rookies), 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 22.8 minutes in 76 games during his rookie campaign. The third overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, Harden was named to the 2009-10 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Ibaka (6-10, 240) appeared in 73 games for the Thunder last season and averaged 6.3 points, 5.4 rebounds (4th among rookies), 1.33 blocks (1st among rookies) and 18.1 minutes per contest. The Republic of Congo native was selected by Oklahoma City with the 24th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.
Maynor (6-3, 170) averaged 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists (7th among rookies) and 15.7 minutes in 81 games (two starts) with Utah and Oklahoma City. Originally selected by the Jazz with the 20th overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, Maynor was acquired along with Matt Harpring from Utah in exchange for the draft rights to Peter Fehse on December 22, 2009.
Mullens (7-0, 275) saw action in 13 contests for Oklahoma City and averaged 1.1 points in 4.2 minutes. The Columbus, OH native played in 27 games with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, averaging 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in 31.5 minutes.
Westbrook (6-3, 187) has averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 33.4 minutes in 164 games (147 starts) during his first two NBA seasons. The third-year guard competed with the USA Men’s Basketball National Team at the World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, helping the USA earn Gold for the first time since 1994.
White (6-9, 251) has averaged 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 12.2 minutes during his first two NBA seasons. The Tuscaloosa, AL native saw action in 10 games last season for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League, averaging a double-double with 20.2 points and 11.1 rebounds in 39.2 minutes.