Abdul-Jabbar took Bynum under his considerable wing, taught him post skills and footwork, while Bynum listened and grew into one of the brightest young centers in the NBA. Sources close to the team said Abdul-Jabbar will be playing a lesser role with both the Lakers and Bynum this season. With his round-the-clock tutoring of Bynum not needed as much, sources said Abdul-Jabbar would likely spend less time with the team and more in his hometown of NewYork. Abdul-Jabbar expressed disappointment in Bynum and the situation, saying, "I think there are things that have to do with basketball that he could learn but he's getting on in years." Bynum said he understood his mentor's feelings, but that it's not personal and just a natural evolution for him in his career. "I understand where he's coming from," Bynum said. "It's definitely tough (for him). As of right now, I have my direction and he's still helping me. As long as he doesn't stop helping me, everything is going to be fine." Bynum is in the first year of a four-year, $57.4 million contract, which he signed last fall. He has increased his scoring in each of his first four seasons, averaging a career-high 14.3 points a game last season in 50 games.
Kevin Durant got hot to rally and win the inaugural NBA All-Star the rookie-sophomore game. Durant scored a record 46 points and victory over 122-116 in the rookie-sophomore game Friday night to earn MVP honors and followed with an improbable win on an outdoor court. Durant twice had to make shots — a double-pump layup and a one-legged, one-handed 3-pointer — to stave off elimination. Decked out in Day-Glo orange high-tops, Durant hit 17 of 25 shots from the floor, 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, and made all eight of his free throws. Durant also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds.
The Skills Challenge championship Derrick Rose won in relatively easy fashion. "No, no, no," said Rose, who punctuated his first-place finish with a double-pump reverse dunk. "I told you I can jump high, but I'm not creative at all." Players had to make a layup, dribble through a slalom course, throw a chest and bounce pass through a hoop, make a three-pointer, put another chest pass through a hoop, dribble through a second slalom and make another layup. Rose's time of 33.3 seconds in the first round bested Harris' second-place 36.9. In the final between those two, Rose finished his run of 35.3 seconds with the nasty slam, while Harris, who went first, took 39.7.
