NBA star players Kevin Durant and Andre Roberson last week helped young Taiwanese players train their game skills and improve their teamwork in a series of mini-camp programs, which are held annually during the summer school break.
Roberson, the shooting guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was the headline guest at the “NBA Youth Madness” event near Taipei 101 yesterday, where he presided over the finals of a three-a-side half-court competition between teams made up of college-level players.
On the final day of his week-long stay in Taiwan, during which Roberson helped to coach local players, there were plenty of opportunities for fans to have their photographs taken with the NBA star and request his autograph.
Photo: Reuters
In addition to seeing Roberson in action, spectators also had the opportunity to watch the Thunder’s cheerleaders, who on Friday helped kickstart the Youth Madness program, which was sponsored by Cathay Pacific Bank.
Roberson said that he had seen lots of talented young players in Taiwan over the past four days.
He said that they have good skills and the drive to go on to the next level, adding that he would not be surprised to see some of them playing in the US in the future.
For yesterday’s program, the Thunder star also participated in a “Clutch Time Three-Point Shoot-Out,” answered questions at a “Fans Interaction Quiz,” and played with Taiwanese parents and kids at the “Cathay Family Shoot-Out” and the “MVP Knock-Out Game,” while the audience also got to see performances by entertainers and hip-hop street dance groups.
A crowd also gathered around Kevin Durant, who was Roberson’s Thunder teammate, but is to join up with the “Splash Brothers” duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson at the Golden State Warriors next season.
Durant, who arrived in Taiwan for a two-day visit on Thursday, headed up a basketball mini-camp at the Zhongzheng Sports Center in Taipei on Friday, where he gave lessons on shooting and wowed young players with consecutive three-pointers.
Asked to comment on his decision to sign with the Warriors for the coming season, Durant said: “It was a very big decision for my career. I’m excited and looking forward to playing with my new teammates, because it is the right decision, and I will give everything to become a part of the team.”
“I have a good feeling [that I will] do well and make progress in the upcoming season, and it’s my job to help the Warriors to win the championship title,” he added.
Durant was visiting Taiwan for a third time and gave expert advice to younger players and discussed the highlights from his glittering nine seasons in the NBA.
Durant was voted Rookie of the Year in the 2007-2008 season and the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2013-2014. He has also won four NBA scoring titles.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to