HoopsHype.com Rumors

Basketball fans envision the epic battle and indefatigably debate its enigmatic outcome. NBA players, whom regularly play with both men, are no different. In one of a series of interviews at the Drew League vs. Goodman League rematch last month at Long Beach State, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant said Bryant would win. "He's probably the best one-on-one player in the game," Durant said. Los Angeles Times

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

John Wall does not want the players union to back down on Monday when it engages in a last-ditch bargaining session with the NBA. After scoring 55 points in the Goodman League’s 151-144 loss to the Drew League at Long Beach State, Wall told Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk that he hoped the National Basketball Players Association would hold firm at accepting no less than 53 percent of basketball-related income. The players received 57 percent of basketball-related income in the previous collective bargaining agreement but NBA commissioner David Stern has pushed for a 50-50 split of revenues for the players and the owners. Neither side has shown a willingness to budge much more, but Stern has pledged to cancel the first two weeks of the regular season if the two sides cannot come to a resolution this afternoon. Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

Wall is still on his rookie deal, so whatever agreement the NBA strikes with the union would greatly affect how much money he makes in his first contract extension. “I’m a young person so I’m looking down the road to see what I can make and what I can do with it,” Wall said. The owners “tried to give us a 45 percent deal. It’s not even all about the percentages it’s about the system. . . . I know they were trying to talk 50/50 but 53 percent is where we’re going to stick at.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, John Wall, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

Barnes said he talked to Lakers teammate and union President Derek Fisher on Sunday and was aware of the eleventh-hour meeting taking place in New York to avoid cancellation of NBA regular-season games. There will be more meetings Monday. "The situation we're in, we're not about to lock ourselves into something that takes precedence over the younger guys — the guys in high school, in college and the rookies," said Barnes, who took the game seriously enough to be assessed a technical foul, as did Wall. "So we've got to leave them in good hands, just like the older players left us." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, CBA, Matt Barnes, Lockout, NBPA, Drew League, Goodman League 

By the way, the Drew League got the payback, winning 151-144, behind Harden's 48 points. Durant, an All-Star with the Thunder, finished with 50 and Wall had 55. "I like playing in these games because it shows the fans how much we appreciate them and that we want to play games," said Durant, who played in an exhibition game Saturday night in Miami. "But we want to play and not be locked out." Los Angeles Times

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Drew League, Goodman League 

They have been locked out by the NBA for 101 days and have been staging these games all over the country, this one Sunday in front of a packed house. "I love to play the game and they are taking that away from us," Durant said about the NBA owners. "But we're going to stick together as players. We're not just going to take any deal." The Drew League players wore T-shirts that read, "The Big Payback," referring to having lost, 135-134, in August to the Goodman League, which wore T-shirts that read, "Basketball Never Stops." Los Angeles Times

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Drew League, Goodman League 

Dorell Wright: Shouts to @Kevin Durant @John Wall @James Harden for puttin on a scoring show!! Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Kevin Durant, John Wall, Dorell Wright, James Harden, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

James Harden: Drew League vs Goodman Game Tonight at Long Beach State @ 630. Be There!!!!!!!! Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

But apparently, the battle for bragging rights was enough to convince Gay that he would participate in the next show to determine which coast has the best players. After weeks of wrangling and tense negotiations, the Goodman League-Drew League rematch will finally take place on Sunday at Long Beach State University and Goodman League commissioner Miles Rawls confirmed that Gay would join forces with Durant, Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Michael Beasley, Sam Young and Donte Greene. Gay, Durant and Wall are also expected to participate in another exhibition game hosted by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on Saturday at Florida International University in Miami, but Rawls said all three would complete the difficult back-to-back set. They will meet a fired-up Drew League team eager for revenge and featuring Harden, Jennings, Nick Young, Derrick Williams, DeMar Derozan, Dorell Wright, Craig Smith, Marcus Banks and Ryan Hollins. Washington Post

LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, DeMarcus Cousins, Craig Smith, Dorell Wright, DeMar DeRozan, Nick Young, Lockout, Ryan Hollins, Marcus Cousin, Sam Young, Donte Greene, Marcus Banks, Derrick Williams, Drew League, Goodman League 

After weeks of wrangling and posturing, the Drew League will get its rematch in Los Angeles with the Goodman League, as the two sides finally came together on a date that could work -- Oct. 9 -- so long as there is no progress made on the NBA labor front. The rematch appeared unlikely two weeks ago, when Drew League Commissioner Dino Smiley and Goodman League Commissioner Miles Rawls couldn’t even agree on why they couldn’t organize another game. “I called Dino. I was like, ‘Let’s get this rematch on the road,’ “ Rawls said in a telephone interview. “He said, ‘My guys are ready.’ I said, ‘Find a date, and I’ll get my guys. Let’s make it happen.’ ” Washington Post

Drew League, Goodman League 

After much waiting and anticipation, there will finally be a rematch between the Los Angeles based Drew League and the Goodman League of Washington D.C. The game will take place on Oct. 9 in Los Angeles at Cal State Dominguez. The time is tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. PT. Longtime Drew League commissioner Drew Smiley confirmed the news and date to ESPNLosAngeles.com. The first meeting on Aug. 21 in D.C. saw the Goodman League squad, fueled by 44 points and a pair of clutch free throws from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, eke out a 135-134 victory. Since then, fans and participants alike have been clamoring to see these squads meet up again. After a series of scheduling conflicts, a mutually agreeable time was finally discovered. ESPN.com

Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

After scrapping plans for a Drew League-Goodman League rematch, Commissioner Oris "Dino" Smiley said he will meet with AEG officials Wednesday to discuss a possible Drew League All-Star game taking place on a grandstand court at L.A. Live. Though he asked for more information about the meeting, AEG spokesman Michael Roth didn't return multiple phone calls and emails Tuesday seeking comment. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles, Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

Carmelo Anthony’s Melo League crushed the Goodman League from Washington, DC, in an all-star charity game in Baltimore last week, but the Knicks star still suffered a big loss. Anthony’s two cellphones were stolen by an unidentified attendee after the competition. “Fans bum-rushed the court to get close to the guys after the game,” a source told Page Six. “Carmelo’s phones were stolen during all of the chaos.” New York Post

New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony, Goodman League, Melo League 

Mike Wells: Word is Kevin Durant and John Wall have committed to play for the Goodman team vs the Indy Pro Am team at Butler on Sept 24 Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, Kevin Durant, John Wall, Lockout, Goodman League 

Chris Palmer: The Goodman League will play the Indy Pro-Am at Butler University on Sept. 24. Eric Gordon, Zach Randolph, George Hill expected to play. Twitter

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph, Eric Gordon, George Hill, Goodman League 

The Drew League wanted a rematch — Drew lost by 1 point, there was questionable officiating, and the Drew League guys were never told you can’t even foul out of the game. A couple of days ago, the Drew League tweeted that the rematch was coming. Not so much. The rematch is not happening, according to the official Drew League twitter account. Drew kept our promise but Goodman League did not so as of right now there will NOT be a rematch game in LA. We have moved on so stay tune. Dont worry we figured they was gonna flake out, we already have other things line up, i will keep you guys posted! NBCSports.com

Lockout, Drew League, Goodman League 

Chris Palmer: Last night at the Goodman League Kevin Durant dropped 44. Ty Lawson had 25. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Ty Lawson, Goodman League 

“K.D. wants Kobe doesn’t he,” I asked Rawls, since District native Kevin Durant had already told Brandon Jennings the night before on Twitter that he wanted to see Bryant playing for the Drew League the next time the teams square off. Rawls nodded and said, “You know K.D. ain’t ducking nobody.” Washington Post

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Drew League, Goodman League 

Durant scored 59 points, but for most of the night, it felt like watching the Eastern Conference Finals, when James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined to make Derrick Rose resemble a helpless one-way show. Rawls mentioned during the third quarter that Durant was “doing everything but cleaning the floor” but he couldn’t outscore James, Paul and Anthony all alone. Washington Post

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Drew League, Goodman League 

Ira Winderman: OK, this is where it stands: USA Today and ESPN.com saying LeBron scored 32, Washington Post's Michael Lee has it as 38. Ah, summer ball. Twitter

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Drew League, Goodman League