OKC Thunder rookie Darius Bazley plays in local Skinz League, but likely for last time this summer

Thunder rookie Darius Bazley returned to the court Monday night. Not downtown at Chesapeake Energy Arena, but 12 miles north at The Hive Sports Complex in Edmond. 

It was opening night of the Skinz League, and Bazley’s first taste of organized basketball since suffering a bone bruise to his right knee Feb. 9 against the Celtics. 

Though Bazley wasn’t facing the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Skinz League has attracted top local talent since Chris Skinner founded it five years ago. 

Skinner estimated that 90% of the league’s 160 players played college basketball. Around 25% are professional players from overseas, the G League, or in Bazley’s case, the NBA. 

But Bazley’s involvement is likely already over. 

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— Joshua Cleary (@JoshuaRCleary) June 2, 2020

The NBA issued guidelines at the beginning of the league hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic which prohibited players from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers, gyms or college facilities. A source familiar with those guidelines told The Oklahoman that the rules were created to assist players during the hiatus and not designed to be punitive. 

Still, Bazley’s participation drew attention that will likely deter other NBA players from joining the Skinz League while their teams are technically in season. 

Bazley wasn’t the only Thunder player set to suit up this week in Edmond. Teammate Terrance Ferguson was scheduled to play Wednesday night. 

But Ferguson tweeted late Tuesday night that he will not play “due to the restrictions the (Thunder) have placed during these times and contractually with the season being resumed.” 

Ferguson has since deleted the tweet. 

Trae Young is in a different position. Skinner expects Young to play in the Skinz League on Wednesday night. 

Unlike the Thunder, Young’s Hawks aren’t among the 22 teams that will be invited to Disney World to resume the season July 31. It's a developing situation, but Young might have more leeway to play in the Skinz League since his regular season will soon officially be over. 

The All-Star point guard has been home in Norman since the NBA allowed players to leave their professional markets. Young played in the Skinz League last summer. 

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— Joshua Cleary (@JoshuaRCleary) June 3, 2020

Thunder wing Deonte Burton has also played in the Skinz League in past summers, as has former Thunder guard Semaj Christon. 

Skinner created the Skinz League when he recognized other leagues in the area weren’t taking advantage of the talent in Oklahoma City. 

“We had three or four different leagues going around the city, but they were all trash,” Skinner said. “So I decided I'm going to put a league together, and I'm gonna hand choose the teams. That way there's always good games.” 

Several former Sooners — Ryan Spangler, Cade Davis, Carl Blair and Tyler Neal — are expected to play this season. 

Neal and Davis are on a team with former Guthrie multi-sport standout Donte Foster, Jacob Burtschi from Putnam City, who played professionally in Germany, and Aaron Young, an Edmond Memorial graduate who played at Oral Roberts. 

“It’s pretty competitive,” Neal said. “I was pretty surprised last year. I’m a little more fit this year because of that. I struggled a little bit with the pace of it last year.” 

The Skinz League consists of 16 teams with 10 players each. Skinner and his five-person board research the basketball background of every player to maintain a high quality of play. 

“I don't want to take teams that I know are gonna get beat by 30,” Skinner said. “Nobody wants to watch that.” 

Skinner, 37, went to Mangum High School before playing basketball at Western Oklahoma State College in Altus. Skinner, who now lives in Oklahoma City, works on a drilling rig for his full-time job. His wife, Kazi, and daughter, Alexus, run the league when Chris is gone. 

The Skinz League plays every Monday and Wednesday night for 10 weeks at The Hive Sports Complex with games starting from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $5, which goes toward the costs of renting the facility. There is no prize money since current college players participate.

The Skinz League began its fifth season Monday, just as the state moved into Phase 3 of its reopening plan. Skinner said crowds are limited to around 100 people and everyone has their temperature checked before entering. 

"Anxious, rowdy, ready to see something,” Skinner said of the opening night crowd. 

Before the pandemic, Skinner said he had confirmation that seven current NBA players planned to play in the Skinz League this summer. 

Bazley was the first. He scored 14 points with eight rebounds and three assists Monday. 

“It wasn't like people were just there to see him,” Skinner said. “People were there for Skinz League itself.”