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.
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