After bombing in enough long distance daggers, Durant's competition — OJ Mayo and Joe Johnson — wilted away, making KD the winner of the first ever All-Star H-O-R-S-E event.

Here's to hoping that, no matter how popular this event ever becomes, they never change the trophy.

Send your tips and any other horse paraphernalia here today, kids.

Kevin Durant wins H-O-R-S-E [The Oklahoman]

So the consensus is that the lovely on the right is Maria Sharapova; but who is the brunette? One thing for sure, Oden could pick her out of a lineup if he had to. If she were facing the wall.

By the way, Mr. Oden seems to have gained a few pounds since then, eh?

Oden, Durant And Wandering Eyes [The Big Lead]

The Deuce has called for all area readers to descend on the affair and get photos, which should be fun. But all you'll catch Durant participating in is karaoke. No doubt.

Also regarding the poster: I'm pretty sure that's palming.

Kevin Durant Is Havin' A Party [Deuce Of Davenport]

Yes, at last, Draft Kevin Durant met the real Kevin Durant. It was a as pleasing an experience as you would suspect.

To me, it was like an episode of Oprah where long-lost siblings are reunited, cause for tears, celebration and I-need-to-take-a-step back awe. To him, it was just another pre-game interview in which he is eating a granola bar and counting down until game time. I understand him. And, for some reason, I think he understands me too. White fan; Black athlete. It's a story often told. This is the NBA.

This pretty much sums up every interview between an athlete and a reporter, since the beginning of time.

Kevin Durant Interview [Draft Kevin Durant]

Well, the blog's purveyor went to Blazers.com and bought an official Durant Trail Blazers jersey (and is wearing it to the Blazers game tonight), which is an obsession culmination we can respect. We don't know if anyone owns a Jordan Blazers jersey, but we like the idea. What other woulda shoulda couldas are out there?

Seems like a fun Friday question, we suppose.

Draft Kevin Durant

Oden's 10 fouls came in only 20 minutes of game action with the Portland Trailblazers, while scoring just six points, getting two rebounds, and blocking two shots. To think, he was four points shy of the elusive points/fouls double-double.

The Seattle Sonics' Kevin Durant, drafted No. 2, fared a little better. He scored 18 points, but only on 5-of-17 shooting. Worse still, he let his team down after the third quarter in that new controversial rule where you have to bench press as much as you can at midcourt, or your team loses 5 points.

Come On ... It's Summer League Fellas [Sons of Sam Malone]
Kevin Durant Is Low On The Upper Body Strength [Deadspin]

That said, some thoughts. Because our opinions are worth nothing, which makes them as valuable as everyone else's today.

• We found ourselves surprised that so many in Seattle were against the Ray Allen to the Celtics trade. You've got Kevin Durant for the next so-many years; why have a guy like Allen hanging around? Gotta be good for Allen, too; lots more threesome opportunities in Boston. (Link NSFW)

• We always find the trades on draft night more fun anyway. Zack Randolph to the Knicks? That's a lot more enjoyable to play with than Jared Dudley in Charlotte.

• Honestly, it was mostly just a night for the Pacific Northwest. We'd totally move there if they had a subway.

You just know he insisted on that, and that he practiced in a mirror for months to get it exactly right.

NBA Live 08 Commercials Featuring "The" Gilbert Arenas [The Angry T]

As a frame of reference, 100 Percent Injury Rate has compiled a list of bench press records for various athletes and other public figures. Some of the fun facts they uncovered:

• Cowboys offensive lineman Larry Allen: 700 pounds.
• Actor Will Smith: 385 pounds. (!)
• Actor Hugh Jackman: 315 pounds.
• President George W. Bush: 185 pounds.

As they point out ... our president can bench press more than the presumed No. 2 NBA draft pick. Fortunately, the only person in the NBA required to constantly lift things is Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who must constantly catch LeBron James.

George W. Bush Benches More Than Kevin Durant [100 Percent Injury Rate]

Though some Portland fans have already put together a Draft Kevin Durant blog, it seems likely that Greg Oden is going to be the first pick, and Durant's going to be playing in either Seattle or Oklahoma City. For all the disappointed teams and fans this morning, Portland — a franchise that has been trying to crawl its way back — and Seattle — a franchise that just found itself a desperately needed identity — were the lucky winners. Before we delve into those whose hearts were crushed, we salute the Pacific Northwest, which might very well be the center of the NBA universe for the next, oh, 10 years ago. Well, if Seattle keeps its team, anyway.

Is The First Pick A Money Maker? [CNBC]
The Draft Lottery Miracle [OregonLive]
Draft Kevin Durant
Live From Secaucus [True Hoop]

Word on the Street:

-According to multiple sources, both from the NBA and close to the player himself, Kevin Durant will be announcing in a press conference mid next week that he will be putting his name in the draft.

Not terribly concrete, I know... but for now, it'll have to do. I'm electing to trust DraftExpress.com on this one, mainly because they have a very handsome website and because it doesn't make sense for Kevin Durant to do anything but declare for the NBA Draft.

In related news, on today's NBA schedule, the Grizzlies play the Magic, the Celtics play the Pacers, and the Bucks play the Knicks. Don't kill yourself preparing for these, Magic, Pacers, and Knicks. I have a feeling you'll do OK.

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament: Day Three [DraftExpress]

"The kid who may present that, (versatility) is the kid in Texas. (He) may have that because he has all the right signs."

This was a nice comment from the greatest player in NBA history, sort of a coronation type of thing. But — and we totally forgot this, and we suspect he did too — Jordan is the "president" of the "Charlotte Bobcats" (really!) and was fined for discussing a player who hasn't declared for the draft yet. It's $15 grand, which we suspect Jordan can handle, but it is amusing that so few people consider Jordan an actual executive that it didn't even occur to us that he could be fined in the same way that Danny Ainge was fined. That's right! He's an executive! Oh yeah!

Now, if only the league will look into those Kevin Bacon tampering charges.

MJ Fined One Blackjack Hand [West Side Slant]