NBA | Russell Westbrook makes strong impression

ORLANDO, Fla. — Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook inbounded the ball, and in about five seconds it was off his fingertips and through the hoop on the court's other end.

A soft but audible "oooooh" from scouts and NBA operatives filled the gym. It was that kind of week in the Orlando Pro Summer League for the former UCLA guard who turned pro after his sophomore season.

Westbrook was almost certain to be a lottery pick in last month's draft, but few analysts had him going as high as No. 4 in the first round. Luckily for him, no one but the former Sonics — who drafted him before the franchise moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City — mattered.

Westbrook averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 turnovers and shot 50 percent from the field in four summer exhibition games — playing as well or better than just about any prospect in Orlando.

He didn't play Friday, when forward D.J. White scored 20 points to help Oklahoma City beat the Chicago Bulls 86-73 to finish the week at 2-3.

"I knew [Westbrook] was going to come in here and play well," said Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, last season's NBA rookie of the year as a Sonic. "I'm excited to play with him next year. He's a fun player to watch, and he's even funner to play with."

Of being drafted fourth, Westbrook said, "I worked as hard as any player in this draft, maybe even harder. So I don't think I was surprised at all."

Hitting the books

Durant is taking time to go back to school. He took a class at the University of Texas this summer and hopes to graduate with a degree in education and a minor in social work.

"Ever since I was young, my mom always wanted me to finish school, and I promised her that I would," the 19-year-old Durant said. "I went back and I took classes. It was tough being away from school for a year and then coming back and taking classes. It was tough, but I tried to push myself through it, and I think I did well. Hopefully next summer, I'll take more classes and keep going from there."

After leaving Austin after one season, he admits he has plenty of work to do.

"It's going to take me awhile, but I'm going to stick with it," Durant said.

Jeff Green, also a Sonics rookie last season, has been taking classes at Georgetown.

Green played four games for Oklahoma City in the summer league and averaged a team-high 22.8 points.

Notes

• Sam Presti, Oklahoma City general manager, said his focus is on building continuity and not necessarily the league's ongoing free-agent signing period.

"Philosophically for our team, our focus is on chipping away every day ... walking out of the gym a little better and continuing to develop the group that we have," Presti said.

• Office space: Owners and managers of Oklahoma City downtown office space available for lease are vying to land a temporary — but potentially lucrative — client, the team formerly known as the Sonics. The franchise eventually will have offices at the Ford Center, its arena, once renovations are complete.

Meanwhile, the team needs temporary quarters, and principal owner Clay Bennett has said finding that space is a priority.

The city will pay for the temporary offices. Contenders for the lease reportedly include Leadership Square, Corporate Tower and Oklahoma Tower.

• Guard Roger Mason, 27, previously with the Washington Wizards, will sign a two-year contract with San Antonio for "just a little less than" $8 million, said his agent, Mark Bartelstein.

• Minnesota signed ex-UCLA power forward Kevin Love, who was the fifth player drafted and was acquired by the Timberwolves from Memphis as part of an eight-player trade that sent former USC guard O.J. Mayo (drafted third) to the Grizzlies.