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Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook barely speaking at NBA All-Star

Wondering how former Thunder teammates and current West All-Star teammates Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are getting along at All-Star weekend? They’re barely interacting, according to reports. Here’s the Oklahoman:

While being ushered to the interview area at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Saturday, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were about to come face-to-face.

That was, until Westbrook and Philadelphia’s Nik Staukas converged to shake hands. Wearing a long-sleeved hoodie under his practice jersey, Durant walked around the pair as a Thunder staffer tapped Durant on the arm…

Day 2 of Westbrook-Durant at All-Star Weekend? Avoidance on and off the court.

Hawks sign radio broadcaster Steve Holman to contract extension

The Atlanta Hawks have signed radio play-by-play broadcaster Steve Holman to a multiyear contract extension.

“Steve is more than a broadcaster; he’s such an important part of our organization and the Atlanta community,” said Hawks Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Andrew Saltzman. “His accomplishments and accolades speak for themselves and we’re thrilled fans will continue to be able to hear his one-of-a-kind broadcasting style for years to come.”

Holman, who will be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame this evening and into the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame on Feb. 24, is in his 32nd year as the “Voice of the Hawks,” having called more 2,500 games. His play-by-play streak, which began in March of 1989, is currently at 2,385 consecutive games including regular season and playoffs.

“The Hawks and the city of Atlanta mean so much to me, and I couldn’t be happier to be able to remain with the organization and community that have supported me throughout my career,” Holman said. “I’m very proud to be a part of such a great organization and excited about the future here. I look forward to calling Hawks games for many years to come.”

A fixture on Atlanta radio since 1980, Holman is also in the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and has won a number of awards for sports reporting as well as the Georgia Associated Press Award, the 2014 Georgia Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, and was the 2015 and 2016 Gabby Award winner.

Kings rookie Malachi Richardson injured

An MRI performed today on Kings guard Malachi Richardson revealed a partial thickness tear of the right hamstring.

He will miss approximately four to six weeks of action.

The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter of last night’s game at Golden State.

The rookie guard is averaging 3.6 points and 1.0 rebounds on 10.6 minutes in 22 games for the Kings this season.

Miami Heat hire Shane Battier as Director of Basketball Development & Analytics

The Miami Heat announced today that they have hired former HEAT player and two-time NBA champion Shane Battier as the Director of Basketball Development & Analytics. His duties will include the development of analytics in evaluating all talent, including college, free agents and current Miami players.

“We believe Shane is an incredible example of our HEAT program, not only for the present, but also for the future,” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “He embodies everything that we are looking for in our players and staff. We feel he will help us tremendously with his experience and knowledge of the game. Shane is an out-of-the-box thinker and will bring a fresh expertise that can help us evolve as a franchise.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the front office of the Miami HEAT,” said Shane Battier. “I look forward to working with the Arison family, learning from a Hall of Fame executive in Pat Riley, General Manager Andy Elisburg and of course my old coach, Erik Spoelstra. My goal, as is the entire organizations, is to bring another championship back to Miami.”

Battier, a role player who played three seasons with the HEAT, helped bring back-to-back NBA championships, three Eastern Conference Championships and three division titles to Miami over that span. He appeared in 210 games (86 starts) with the HEAT and averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 22.6 minutes while shooting 39.8 percent from the field. He won the Twyman-Stokes NBA Teammate of the Year award in 2014 and the Magic Johnson Award for excellence on the court with cooperation with media and fans in 2013, both as a member of the HEAT. The 13-year NBA veteran appeared in 977 career NBA games (705 starts) and averaged 8.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.01 steals and 30.7 minutes while shooting 43.7 percent from the field.

Jahlil Okafor trade rumors persist

With the emergence of Sixers center Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor has wound up on the trading block. No guarantee he gets moved, but Okafor has been mentioned in trade rumors for much of the season. Here’s the Philadelphia Inquirer with the latest:

76ers center Jahlil Okafor had the same feeling most people had.

The thought was that Okafor was about to be traded once he didn’t play the past two games due on-going trade talks.

“I thought it would be a good chance,” said Okafor, responding to being asked if he thought he was gone. “When I’m not traveling with the team I was expecting something to happen.”

Instead, the second-year center is slated to come off the bench for the Sixers Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics at T.D. Garden. While trade talks continue, the team is not as close to trading the second-year center as it seemed to be in recent days.

Jabari Parker undergoes ACL surgery

Bucks General Manager John Hammond announced that forward Jabari Parker underwent successful surgery today to repair his left ACL injury. The surgery was performed at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., by Dr. Robert LaPrade.

Parker will miss the remainder of the season with the recovery and rehabilitation period estimated at 12 months. A timeline for his return to basketball activity will be established at a later date. Parker suffered the injury in the third quarter of Milwaukee’s game vs. Miami on Feb. 8.

Zach LaVine undergoes ACL surgery

Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine underwent surgery today to reconstruct the torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his left knee. The surgery was performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache of Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in collaboration with Timberwolves Team Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Diane Dahm of Mayo Clinic. Timberwolves Director of Athletic Therapy Matt Duhamel accompanied LaVine.

The injury occurred during the Timberwolves vs. Detroit Pistons game on Friday, February 3.

A timeline for his return to activity will be established at a later date, but he is expected to be out at least for the rest of the season.

Kevin Love will miss 2017 NBA All-Star game

Cavaliers forward and 2017 NBA All-Star Kevin Love underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his left knee this morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Altchek with Dr. James Rosneck of the Cleveland Clinic present.

Love will now undergo a period of rest and rehabilitation and his return to play is estimated at approximately six weeks.

Love made the 2017 Eastern conference NBA All-Star team. A replacement for him should be announced very soon. The All-Star game is this Sunday.

NBA D-League to be renamed NBA Gatorade League (NBA G-League)

Beginning with the 2017-18 season, the NBA Development League (NBA D-League) will be renamed the NBA Gatorade League (NBA G-League) as part of a multiyear expanded partnership announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Gatorade.

This marks the first time a U.S. professional sports league has named an entitlement partner.

Founded as a league to develop NBA talent, the NBA D-League has become an integral part of the NBA family, with 40 percent of current NBA players having spent time in the NBA D-League and four current NBA head coaches starting as coaches on NBA D-League benches. The league has tripled in size from eight teams during the inaugural 2001-02 season to a record 25 teams for the 2017-18 campaign. NBA owners have increasingly invested in the NBA D-League, with 15 NBA clubs purchasing an NBA D-League team since the 2012-13 season, bringing the total number of NBA-owned minor league franchises to 20 for next season.

“As one of the most iconic brands in the world and a founding partner of the NBA Development League, Gatorade is an ideal fit for this first-of-its-kind partnership,” said Mark Tatum, NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO. “The NBA D-League has prepared hundreds of players for the NBA and Gatorade has always been focused on fueling players to perform at the highest level. We look forward to collaborating with the renowned GSSI team to enhance player development and our game.”

Connectivity between the NBA and the NBA’s official minor league continues to grow. Recent changes to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement have reinforced that synergy, as NBA teams will be able to have up to two “two-way players” on their rosters beginning next season. These “two-way players” will gain experience in the NBA, but will primarily play in the NBA G-League as part of their NBA journeys.

“We have more than 50 years of experience working with athletes and using those insights to help improve athletic performance through innovative sports fuel and equipment,” said Brett O’Brien, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Gatorade. “This expansion of our NBA partnership is a great opportunity to not only work with the elite athletes of the NBA G-League, but also continue to lead the evolution of basketball performance.”

The partners will also collaborate on custom, behind-the-scenes video content which will capture NBA G-League players on their respective journeys, highlighting a shared commitment to enhancing performance through innovation.

A founding partner of the NBA D-League, Gatorade will continue to present the league’s Gatorade Call-Up platform. Since 2001, there have been nearly 500 Gatorade Call-Ups from the NBA D-League to the NBA.

Hornets sign Mike Tobey to second 10-day contract

The Charlotte Hornets have signed center Mike Tobey to a second 10-day contract. Tobey signed his first 10-day contract with Charlotte on Feb. 3 from the Greensboro Swarm, after becoming the first “Call-Up” call-up from the Swarm since its inception.

The 7-0 Tobey has appeared in 29 games (19 starts) for Greensboro in his first D-League season, averaging 11.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 26.0 minutes per game. He has scored in double figures 18 times and grabbed double-figure rebounds on 15 occasions, including each of the last five D-League games. Tobey has posted 12 double-doubles for Greensboro on the year.

The Monroe, NY, native played for the Hornets in the 2016 Orlando Pro Summer League and signed with the team on July 25, 2016. In two preseason games with the Hornets, Tobey posted averages of 6.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 18.8 minutes.

A four-year player at the University of Virginia (2012-16), Tobey’s 138 games played rank first in school history. He owns collegiate career averages of 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per contest, and was named the ACC Sixth Man of the Year following the 2014-15 season.