Tulsa Report: Brooks visits 66ers; Mullens making smooth transition
Dec 9 2009 3:50PM
Just because the Thunder had Tuesday off didn’t mean it was a day of rest and relaxation for head coach Scott Brooks.
Brooks and assistant coach Rex Kalamian spent the off day with the Tulsa 66ers, checking in on rookie center Byron Mullens and helping the 66ers staff conduct practice.
It’s probably something you don’t see often in the NBA.
“I think it’s rare,” Brooks said. “But we own that team so we have a lot invested in it. We like the fact that we can go down there and visit, watch their practices, watch their games as many times as we’re able to because it’s only an hour and a half drive. So it was good to see them practice. Byron, like I said, I thought he did very well.”
Brooks’ visit to Tulsa was just one of several ways in which the Thunder is staying connected with the 66ers. Brooks and Assistant General Manager Rich Cho are in constant communication with the 66ers front office. Mullens said that most of his Thunder teammates, and Brooks, text message him regularly, and that he picked up the NBA League Pass application on his iPhone so he could keep up with the team. Mullens said that Cho and Assistant General Manager Troy Weaver have come to see him play so far.
“I stay in touch with Sam (Presti), all those guys, Rich, Troy, Coach (Brooks), we all stay in contact,” said Mullens, who was in Oklahoma City for Monday's Thunder game against Golden State. “They all come down and watch games and after the games they tell me how I’m doing. During the game I’ll look up there and they’ll give me a thumbs-up. It means a lot, them showing up and believing (in me). It feels great.”
Through six games, Mullens is averaging 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in 35.5 minutes per game. The playing time has been invaluable for Mullens, who said he’s had a smooth transition since the 66ers and Thunder run the same plays and practice the same way.
“I just went in, got in a game and was ready to go, really,” Mullens said. “Everything is the same.”
As far as gauging where Mullens is in his development, Brooks said that comes with time.
“It’s way too early,” Brooks said. “He has to understand our league, the system. From what we see he picks things up very quickly. He’s a very bright basketball player. At a young age he picks it up as quick as I’ve seen everybody, and that’s with all the players I’ve been around. Usually young players don’t pick it up as quick and Byron does. Byron knows our offense inside and out. He knows all five positions. And you couldn’t ask too many players on any team to do that understand all five positions but when he’s with our coaching staff he will diagram all five positions, which is pretty cool.”
Contact Chris Silva
Brooks and assistant coach Rex Kalamian spent the off day with the Tulsa 66ers, checking in on rookie center Byron Mullens and helping the 66ers staff conduct practice.
It’s probably something you don’t see often in the NBA.
“I think it’s rare,” Brooks said. “But we own that team so we have a lot invested in it. We like the fact that we can go down there and visit, watch their practices, watch their games as many times as we’re able to because it’s only an hour and a half drive. So it was good to see them practice. Byron, like I said, I thought he did very well.”
Brooks’ visit to Tulsa was just one of several ways in which the Thunder is staying connected with the 66ers. Brooks and Assistant General Manager Rich Cho are in constant communication with the 66ers front office. Mullens said that most of his Thunder teammates, and Brooks, text message him regularly, and that he picked up the NBA League Pass application on his iPhone so he could keep up with the team. Mullens said that Cho and Assistant General Manager Troy Weaver have come to see him play so far.
“I stay in touch with Sam (Presti), all those guys, Rich, Troy, Coach (Brooks), we all stay in contact,” said Mullens, who was in Oklahoma City for Monday's Thunder game against Golden State. “They all come down and watch games and after the games they tell me how I’m doing. During the game I’ll look up there and they’ll give me a thumbs-up. It means a lot, them showing up and believing (in me). It feels great.”
Through six games, Mullens is averaging 16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.0 block in 35.5 minutes per game. The playing time has been invaluable for Mullens, who said he’s had a smooth transition since the 66ers and Thunder run the same plays and practice the same way.
“I just went in, got in a game and was ready to go, really,” Mullens said. “Everything is the same.”
As far as gauging where Mullens is in his development, Brooks said that comes with time.
“It’s way too early,” Brooks said. “He has to understand our league, the system. From what we see he picks things up very quickly. He’s a very bright basketball player. At a young age he picks it up as quick as I’ve seen everybody, and that’s with all the players I’ve been around. Usually young players don’t pick it up as quick and Byron does. Byron knows our offense inside and out. He knows all five positions. And you couldn’t ask too many players on any team to do that understand all five positions but when he’s with our coaching staff he will diagram all five positions, which is pretty cool.”
Contact Chris Silva
