KEVIN DURANT - Forward, Oklahoma City Thunder
When I started making this list, my first instinct was to put Kevin Durant at the very top of the list. I've since made a few edits, and he has slipped to number three. Make no mistake, though, this young man is as good as it gets for young athletes and the difference between the top 3 are really just splitting hairs.
Durant, also known as The Durantula - one of my favorite athlete nicknames - has quickly asserted himself as one of the NBA's premier scorers. In 2009-10 he was the league's scoring champion averaging a robust 30.1 points per game. During the season he rattled off an unreal streak of scoring at least 25 points in 29 consecutive games! That streak set the NBA mark, breaking a record set by Allen Iverson. During the streak and throughout the season, he seemed virtually unstoppable and able to get his scoring from any position on the floor.
For a 6'9" forward Durant is a deft shooter from all over the court. When he's on his game his jump-shot is really a thing of beauty, and I'd put it up against just about anyone in the league for aesthetics. His combination of size and quickness, make him incredibly difficult to defend one on one, and this season in particular he has faced a myriad of defensive schemes aimed solely at slowing him down.
It has worked to a small degree. In part, that is the reason for his being #3 on this list and not #1. Entering the 2010-11 season most NBA fans and experts were expecting another step forward for Durant. Another 30 PPG effort and perhaps more rebounding and distributing was in order. He stumbled a bit out of the blocks to begin the season, as teammate Russell Westbrook looked to be taking the reigns of the Thunder. Across the board, many of Durant's numbers are down just a tick or two this season. He has struggled a bit to find his stroke from behind the arc, shooting just 34% from three. However, at 28.1 points per night and 7.1 rebounds he is hardly disappointing from a production stand point. Perhaps another step forward might be to much too ask, especially from an unselfish player who knows that for the Thunder to become a contender other guys like Westbrook and Harden are going to have to get theirs too.
In fact, Durant's unassuming superstar temperament might just be the most appealing thing about him. He's much more Scottie than he is Michael. And while that might hinder him from garnering as many commercials or off-court endorsement deals, it certainly helps liken him to the fans. In an age when most athletes of his caliber are always searching out greener pastures (see Alex Rodriguez, Lebron James) Durant was happy to reup with the hometown Oklahoma City Thunder in hopes of making that small market team an annual title threat, and didn't try to force his way out of town onto a so-called "super team".
Durant's resume already boasts many collegiate decorations, a Rookie of the Year Award, two All-Star games, a Scoring Champion award and an FIBA World Championship Gold Medal. When all is said and done with Kevin Durant's career I suspect he will go down as one of the greats. He is well on his way to doing just that, and at the ripe age of 22 and locked into a long-term deal in OKC, Thunder fans are hoping that career just might have a few rings in it as well. If they can keep the talent around him there shouldn't be any reason why not.
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