What’s going on everyone? Our USA Basketball training camp is winding down here in Vegas, and Thursday was very memorable because I was able to share the court with two of my teammates, Jeff and Russell, for a few minutes during a scrimmage against the Select Team. It was pretty neat to be out there with the guys. We’re just trying to represent OKC and USA!

We also had a pretty good practice before we scrimmaged, focusing mostly on defensive schemes and roles. I was trying to get after it on the defensive end when it came time to play. I know I got a bit better as a defender last season but I know there’s always a lot of room for improvement.

I gotta say, there’s been quite a bit of media out here this week. It seems like there’s new reporters every day. So of course I’m getting a lot of the same questions, and one big one I keep getting is how I handled my contract situation. I know I haven’t blogged about my contract extension, but I think I owe it to you all to let you know how it went down and why I handled it the way I did.

First off, I’ve always said that Oklahoma City is a place I want to be and I couldn’t imagine not playing for the Thunder, especially with these great teammates and coaches and support staff. So when I got approached with a contract extension once negotiations could start, signing it wasn’t a very hard decision. It was really a no-brainer. If people were paying attention to what I’ve been saying for the last three years, then they’d know my heart has always been with the Thunder. This organization has been moving in the right direction since the day I got here.

Now as far as announcing my signing through Twitter…..c’mon, what else would you expect?!?! You all know how much I love Twitter and Facebook and social media in general. I’ve met so many fans through social media. That’s how a lot of us athletes connect with fans in this day and age. I love giving out free tickets or Nike gear and answering all your questions, even the crazy funny ones. So I didn’t think twice to announce my contract extension through Twitter. I wanted to make sure all my fans and supporters were the first to know, and most importantly to get the news straight from me!

Now, the friends and family and fans who know me weren’t surprised that it’s how I let everyone know. But some people keep asking why I didn’t announce it on national television or something like that. I really get a laugh out of that. I keep telling people how my situation was much different from all the other big names out there. First of all, I was just up for a contract extension. LeBron, Chris Bosh and D-Wade, those guys were unrestricted free agents, so there was more hype with their decision, more people who wanted to know what was gonna go down. That’s a big difference.

And as I told someone the other day, LeBron James is the biggest name in sports. Nothing he does is ever going to go quiet. You can’t blame him for what happened and how he made his decision. Again, my situation was totally different.

But whether I signed the contract extension this summer or next summer, once I stepped on the floor here in Las Vegas for this Team USA camp, everything else went out the door for me. I’m always focused on what’s in front of me. Of course I’m glad the contract is done. It’s a blessing. But to be here right now, I just want to be focused and try to do something I’ve never done before, which is play for the USA team.

So hopefully that explains everything for y’all. I’ll try to get another blog up before we leave Vegas this weekend.

Take care!

Fans: Be sure to check out Kevin on Twitter and Facebook.

What’s up everyone? Hope you’re all having a good week.

Well, the NBA Draft has finally arrived! Or it’s at least about to in a couple of hours. If you’re a basketball junkie then you’ve got to be pumped for tonight.

But before we get into that, I just want to give a few thoughts on last week’s NBA Finals. Being the competitor that I am, it was disappointing because, of course, I wanted to be a part of that. Obviously, it didn’t turn out that way. But on the same note, it was an inspiration to watch. If I want to get to the Finals we just have to go out there and work harder than we already are.

I know a lot of critics were saying how sloppy of a series it was, but at the end of the day I think it was played the right way. It was hard-nosed basketball and no shots were easy. Guys fought hard, fought through adversity and it was fun to watch. That seven-game series was really a grind and I don’t remember the last time that happened in the Finals. It was really a joy to watch. Again, it was disappointing not to play in it knowing you had a chance to, but it is what it is. We’ve just got to keep working.

Now, about the NBA Draft.

To be honest, I really haven’t given it much thought. I know a lot of people have been asking me who I think the Thunder will take and really, I have no clue!

I’m just looking forward to whoever we get to be a good teammate and to be able to fit in with us. We’re looking for guys that have that Thunder mentality, which is team first! I’ll be watching it because obviously you never know what could happen. A trade could come, you never know. I’m just going to be all eyes and ears and whoever we choose I’ll be ready to go out there and have him as my teammate, so it should be a fun time for whoever gets drafted.

Last year I was at Texas for summer school watching the draft from the locker room after a workout. When we got James Harden I was very excited. I’m excited to find out who we pick up today.

Every year that’s a dream come true for somebody. It brings back memories for me every time I watch the draft. I know that might sound silly because I was drafted only a few years ago, but it’s true. I was with my friends and family when I heard my name called and I’ll always remember that moment.

I want to wish good luck to my Texas bros Avery Bradley, Dexter Pittman and Damion James. I also want to wish good luck to my high school teammate and good friend Greivis Vasquez.

So have you guys filled out any mock drafts? Are you looking forward to the draft? Let me know in the comments section.

THUNDER UP!

Fans: Be sure to check out Kevin on Twitter and Facebook.

Kevin Durant has continued to find ways to help his team win.

We saw KD flash his defensive prowess in the Thunder’s Game 3 win over the Lakers, when the league’s leading scorer helped shutdown one of the game’s all-time greatest scorers in Kobe Bryant, holding the Black Mamba to just four points in the fourth quarter as Durant used his length and athleticism to put the brakes on the reigning NBA Finals MVP.

Critics said that KD and the Thunder had officially arrived on that night.

If so, then what to make of Oklahoma City’s Game 4 win over the Lakers two nights later at the Ford Center?

The national media, both print and broadcast, praised the Ford Center for its earsplitting noise and unwavering support. Game 3 was a sea of blue at the Ford Center, Game 4 was a whiteout and of course there were scores of KD jerseys in the house.

But KD and the Thunder have been all about the team since day one. It’s why you hear Kevin thank his teammates time and again after a big scoring night. They all support each other. Heck, even Kevin’s mom sported a Serge Ibaka jersey at Game 4. KD’s mom was flanked by his two grandmothers, both of who could hardly contain themselves.

And while KD dropped a game-high 22 points, including 9-for-11 from the free-throw line, it was his four rebounds and two blocks that were just as important.

Of course, the game was flush with some highlight reel plays by KD.

His thunderous, cocked-back one-handed fast break dunk not even five minutes into the game gave the Thunder a 9-8 lead, one that it would never relinquish. The Ford Center crowd ate that one up, and KD acknowledged them by letting out a roar of approval himself and a glance at the crowd.

And then there was KD’s pull-up three-pointer late in the third quarter that gave Oklahoma City a 20-point lead. KD stepped into and shot that one with such confidence, as if he knew it would scorch through the net.

The Thunder had built such a lead against the defending champs that KD was able to rest the entire fourth quarter. Afterward, a reporter made mention of KD finishing eight points under his regular season scoring average, to which head coach Scott Brooks replied jokingly, “KD, eight points under his average, I don’t know. We’re going to have to work on his offense.”

Even with the physical, defensive-minded Ron Artest guarding him, KD has continued to run him off screens and gain as much separation to get good looks at the basket.

But it still must feel good to be able to help your team in a variety of ways.

And all it’s done is inject even more confidence into KD and his teammates. He might only have four playoff games under him, but KD has become a fast learner.

And even though the Thunder lost those first two games in L.A., it will roll into the Staples Center on Tuesday night knowing that it has as good shot at stealing Game 5 on the road.

“We knew what we are capable of from how hard we play every day and how hard we practice every day,” Kevin said. “So with those attributes I think we can go far as a team. It’s all on us. We control our own destiny at this point and we’ve just got to continue to bring the effort every day.”

KD and his teammates will be ready.

-Team KD

You’re seeing a different side to Kevin Durant right now.

The national spotlight is shining bright on him and his Thunder teammates. As the league’s youngest scoring champion in decades, his every move is being dissected and analyzed. Everyone wants to talk to him. Most of the questions are repetitive, the answers regurgitated. Obviously, because it’s the playoffs the stakes are so much higher. So KD is learning how to adjust.

He’s keeping his small circle of family and friends close to him. Twitter and his blog can wait until the offseason. KD just wants to focus on winning games.

He and his Thunder teammates got their first win of its first-round playoff series against the defending champion L.A. Lakers in Game 3, outlasting them, 101-96, before a one of the most hyped up crowds he’s ever played before.

And on a night when his offense wasn’t as consistent as we’ve seen this season – he scored 29 points on 8-for-24 shooting – KD stepped it up in other areas.

He grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds, dished four assists and had a key block down the stretch.

He also had a chance to defend the reigning NBA Finals MVP, Kobe Bryant, in a tight fourth quarter, holding him to just four points in the final frame. Kevin used his length and quickness to both challenge Kobe’s shots and keep him from getting to the rim.

The national media took notice, saying that KD had arrived. Everyone knew he could score in bunches, but defend? Well, that’s something they’ve never seen. Then again, they haven’t followed him as closely throughout the regular season.

“Other parts of my game get overshadowed because I score the basketball a lot this season but I’ve just been trying to play hard,” KD told reporters on Friday. “A lot of people don’t recognize that so that’s what last night was all about, playing hard. Kobe Bryant’s the best player in the world and some of those shots he missed it’s just because he missed. Maybe two or three of those shots I made him miss. But I know he’s going to come back more focused and more ready for the game but hopefully he’ll miss those shots that he takes next game.”

This has been a great, big learning process for Kevin and his teammates, most of whom are playing in their first-ever playoff series.

KD said he’s learning something new each game. And he’s hoping that those lessons will help him come Game 4 on Saturday night at the Ford Center, where the Thunder will look to even its best-of-seven series at two games apiece.

“I’m just being more comfortable,” KD said. “The first game was kind of like a feeling-out process. The second game I kind of knew how they were going to play me and knew different spots where I could score, rebound and pass the ball. The third game was getting comfortable so hopefully that fourth game I get more and more comfortable and help my team win.”

-Team KD

The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Many of KD’s Thunder teammates have been wearing the Zoom KD II throughout the regular season. Now many of them have started wearing special playoff colorways of the Zoom KD II for their match up against the Los Angeles Lakers. Here’s a look at some of the colorways KD and his Thunder teammates will wear throughout the playoffs.

For more information on the KD and where you can find various models of the shoe, please click HERE. And if you have a pair of Zoom KD II’s, make sure to take a pic of yourself holding the shoe and send it in to KD35sightings [at] gmail.com. We will feature your Zoom KD II photos in the KD II sightings section of the site.

The folks over at SLAM Magazine chose Kevin and two of his Thunder teammates (Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green) to grace the cover of this month’s SLAM Magazine.

Here’s insight from SLAM Big Bossman, Lang Whitaker on why they picked the three young up and coming players to be on the cover:

Picking Oklahoma City from the West was a no-brainer. Sure they’re young and talented and all that, but what they’ve accomplished in just two years is incredible. Anyone remember that it was just a little over a year ago that they started out 1-12? I think everyone recognized they were a talented team, led by probably the most talented young player in the NBA, but now they’re not only a Playoff team out West, they’re three games out of first in their division and on pace to win 50.

Our main man Nima Zarrabi spent time with the Thunder when they were out in Cali a couple of weeks ago, and he wrote a great story that captures not only how well the Thunder players all get along, but also just how well the franchise is positioned going forward.

Support the Thunder and pick up your copy of this month’s SLAM Magazine today!

—Team KD

Check out this new AP feature on the KD and the OKC Thunder. They definitely have been shaking up the NBA this season.

—Team KD

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you all are somewhere enjoying the day with your families.

We were just in Dallas on a quick overnight road trip to face the Mavs. If you didn’t hear, we ended up clinching a playoff spot last night. I’m so excited about getting a chance to play in the playoffs for the first time in my career. What makes it even sweeter is the way that Thunder fans have treated us through it all. Man, I love our Thunder fans so much! When we got back home last night there were fans lined up at the airport to greet us as we got of the plane! And it was 12:17 am! I can’t say thank you enough to all of the Thunder fans out there for all of the love and support.

We’re not done yet though. We still have to get as many wins as we can so that we can secure a better seed. We have another tough match up tonight against a very good Wolves team. So make sure to keep sending us all of your love and support. We really do feed off of it!

While we were in Dallas, me, Eric, James and Jeff decided to go see the movie “Why Did I Get Married, Too?” on Friday night. Nothing like killing some time away from home at the movies, you know?

I thought it was a great movie. I’m young and it made me think about what it would be like if I was married. Being in the NBA and being blessed to be financially stable, to have a wife to enjoy that with…that was something I thought about. I thought about the good and the bad throughout a relationship. Like I said, I know I’m young, but it’s something I can think about and something I look forward to…one day.

But overall it was a good movie. It was funny and it was serious at the same time, and that’s what made it a good movie. It wasn’t just all dramatic and about love and about hate. There were a lot of fun parts that made you think as well.

I think everybody should go see it. Go see it with your boyfriend, your girlfriend, whoever. It just makes you sit back and analyze all the things that go on in a relationship.

So who else has seen “Why Did I get Married, Too?” What did you all think about it? Let me know.

Fans: Be sure to check out Kevin on Twitter and Facebook.

What’s good everybody? Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. We’ve been kinda busy, on the road a lot and then had the holidays.

But I’m sure you all have seen that we’ve been playing pretty well as of late. We won five straight games before losing at Milwaukee last night. It was our longest winning streak of the season and of my career with the organization. We had a little bit of a slip up last night against the Bucks, but overall, everyone on this team has been playing so well.

My shot’s also been falling recently, and a media member told me last night that I broke the franchise record for consecutive 30-point games with seven. I’ve just got to give thanks to my teammates, man, I can’t emphasize how much they put their trust in me and their confidence in me to score points and rebound and block shots. I just try to do everything for them. They play so hard every night and I just do my best to keep up with them. I can’t thank my teammates enough. They’re the best teammates in the world to play with and like I said they trust me so much and as a player that’s all you need, your confidence from your teammates and that trust and the sky’s the limit.

I’m just happy I’m a part of this team and hopefully as a group we continue to get going and get better. But it’s not all about me. It’s about this whole organization and how they trust in me. I’m just blessed and excited to be a part of this group and I’m excited to be a part of something that’s going to move forward in the future. Hopefully everything continues.

It’s a lot of fun when you’re winning but we know we can’t get satisfied or complacent. We all know we’ve got a long ways to go before we get to where we want to be. We all know that. It’s always fun to come in and win games. We have more tough tests ahead the rest of the season so we’ve just got to be prepared.

As for me, I’ve just been getting things within the offense and trying to make shots with my teammates. They put me in good positions to score so I do my best at making shots. I work after practices and after shoot arounds to hone my shots. I put in maybe 20 to 30 minutes of good work after every practice. I just try to get better each day. I never try to take days off and I never get satisfied with what I’ve done so far. I have a long ways to go to become the player I want to be, and I know that and I’ve just got to continue to work.

Well, it was good to get back on the blog. Let me know what you guys think about the way we’ve been playing. I love your feedback. Take care everyone!

Fans: Be sure to check out Kevin on Twitter and Facebook.

Hey everyone. KD wants to make his site a home for his fans. So today we’re rolling out a section of the blog called the “Fan Zone”. This is where fans will get to blog about KD and the Thunder. We’ll also be using this section to house contests, giveaways, etc.

Here’s our first Fan Zone post. It comes from Justin Geary. Justin sent in this email to us after KD hooked him up with free tickets to last week’s home game against Philly.

There I was sitting on my couch thinking “Man, it would be nice to go a thunder game” but unfortunately I’m broke and therefore my wallet didn’t agree. So I turned to Twitter and decided I would Tweet KD. I said “@KevinDurant35 you should hook a broke college student up with some tickets for tonight’s game…please.” It was kind of a joke but I did want tickets to the game. Not two minutes later I received an email that said Kevin Durant is now following you on twitter, so I went back to twitter and he had responded, he said “@jgeary01 Ok DM me ur name n I got u.”

I couldn’t believe it so I immediately direct messaged him and he informed me there would be 2 tickets for me when I showed up. They could have been anywhere in that arena and I would have been happy but then I show up and the seats were on the Lower Level, it was awesome! KD dropped 33 and Russell Westbrook had 15 assists! It was awesome! I think it’s so awesome that Kevin Durant would reach out to a fan like that, it’s such a respectable thing to do. It shows he truly cares about his fans! Thanks KD!

—Justin Geary