Such is the phenomenon of tanking, folks.

And Durant endured two 20-win seasons before he was gifted the full supporting cast of Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka. This experience gives Durant free rein to speak on the topic, and he used that ability to give advice to the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that stripped their roster in recent years and committed to tanking for years to come.

Durant was drafted second overall to a team with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, both NBA All Stars at the time, and he expected to fit in as a member of one of the NBA's best combinations.

The Sonics had different idea, though. They traded Allen and Lewis away before the season ever started, a move similar to the 76ers' draft-day deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the New Orlenas Pelicans in exchange for Nerlens Noel. The Sonics players were more highly regarded, but the general approach is no different.

Durant told The Philadelphia Inquirer what it felt like to be in the midst of an obvious effort to tank.

"It was tough for me especially coming in as a young player," Durant told the Inquirer. "I thought I was going to play with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis when they were all-star every year."

Things worked out quite differently, as Durant played through a 20-64 season his first year and came back the next season as a member of the relocated Thunder to go 23-59.

"Every game it was tough knowing that it was going to be hard for us to win," Durant said. "But what we did was come in and work hard every day, and know that it was going to be a process and maybe a tough year."


CUBAN'S STANDS


Mark Cuban says he learned he was being sued for insider trading when he turned on CNBC one day "and I was the headline."

The billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner told jurors in federal court Monday that the news made him "sick to my stomach."

Cuban testified that he could have settled the case -- he's not likely to face more than $2 million to $3 million in fines and penalties if he loses -- but he hired lawyers and fought back because "I did nothing wrong and I refuse to be bullied."

Monday marked Cuban's second day on the witness stand. The Securities and Exchange Commission is suing Cuban, claiming that he broke a confidentiality agreement when he unloaded his shares in a Canadian Internet company in 2004. The government says he avoided $750,000 in losses by selling his shares on insider information about a pending stock offering before it was announced publicly.

Cuban was called as a witness by the SEC. When he finished two days of testimony late Monday, his lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater to throw out the case, saying the SEC had failed to prove insider trading.

The judge, who had dismissed the case in 2009 only to be overturned by an appeals court, denied Cuban's motion, meaning that the case eventually will go to the jury of seven women and three men.

Cuban detailed his concern over connections between Mamma.com Inc. and a convicted stock swindler, Irving Kott. Cuban's lawyer offered emails indicating that he had raised questions about Kott with company officials before selling his shares.

Cuban's side is highlighting Kott to buttress its defense that Cuban had many reasons for selling his stock. The SEC takes a different view, arguing that Cuban sold his shares only after learning privately about Mamma.com's plan to issue additional shares -- a move that would lower the value of Cuban's stock.


ZELLER'S PROGRESS


Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said he needs rookie Cody Zeller to play well in order for his team to improve.

At the same time Clifford wants the 7-footer to ease into his pro career and not feel the weight of expectations of a player picked fourth overall in last summer's NBA draft out of Indiana.

Finding common ground between those two extremes will likely be a season-long work in progress for the new coach and his new player.

After Zeller's strong showing in the NBA's Summer League and an impressive first week of training camp, Clifford is convinced he has a power forward that can help the Bobcats for a long time.

But Clifford said it will be a process, joking that "He's so young, he's still learning the rules."

"He has a lot of talent and he's a hard worker," Clifford said. "Cody's the kind of guy the more you're around him and watch him play the more excited you get about his possibilities."

Contributors: DeAntae Prince, The Associated Press