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It doesn't compare with being picked first or second in the NBA draft, but Kevin Durant has another honor on his plate this week. He was nominated Monday for a pair of ESPY awards, to be given out July 15 by ESPN.

In addition to being nominated as best breakthrough athlete and as best college male athlete, Durant was a key player in another ESPY-nominated event ? the Longhorns' 105-103 triple-overtime loss to Oklahoma State in January, which is nominated for best game. The other best-game nominees are Boise State's win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl and the Colts' win over the Patriots in the AFC championship game.

Fan voting for the ESPYs continues through July 7 at ESPN.com.

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The history of Florida players taken in the NBA draft is filled with recent first-round draft picks and some legends of eras past.

But for Gator basketball, the NBA draft has never been as fruitful as the one expected Thursday night.

Florida has never had more than two players taken in the same draft. On Thursday, three could potentially get picked among the first 10 selections.

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AUBURN HILLS - Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups has opted out of the final year of his six-year contract, making him an unrestricted free agent heading into the summer signing season.

"He informed the team this morning that he was opting out of his final year with the Pistons and that makes him a free agent - which we expected," team spokesman Matt Dobek said Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound All-Star has said he would prefer to stay with Detroit and expects to be back if the team can match the best deal he can find from another team.

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By all rights, Nick Young wasn't supposed to be a college basketball star. He flunked out of two high schools. His oldest brother died in a drive-by shooting. Now, the Southern California player is set to be chosen in this week's NBA draft and earn millions of dollars.

His struggle is portrayed in "Second Chance Season." The documentary debuted last week at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where a third screening is scheduled for Sunday.

"Every now and then, a kind of special story picks me," said Daniel H. Forer, the director and co-producer. "It was an absolutely remarkable journey."

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