A few days ago, Kevin Durant increased his scoring average to 30 points a game and gained the NBA scoring lead. It looks like the scoring crown is a two horse race between Durant and LeBron James, who trails KD by a mere .3 points a game. Maybe I am a little bit biased because the baby faced Durant attended the University of Texas, but I honestly believe he will edge LeBron for the scoring title in what many believe to be the tightest race ever. The circumstances seem to favor Durant, or at least give him control of the race. The Cavaliers, having clinched the NBA’s best record, are resting LeBron so he hasn't had a chance to improve his scoring average. If the 21-year old Durant is able to hold onto his current lead, he will become the youngest player ever to win the scoring title. Although some consider the NBA scoring title to be one of the more selfish awards in all of sports, in KD’s case, that is the last thing it is.
Durant is the main reason the extremely young Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly the Seattle Sonics) are the NBA’s most improved team, having already doubled their 23 wins from last season. Kevin Durant scores 30 points a game, but what’s even more admirable is that he doesn’t do it in the egotistical way of Allen Iverson/Carmelo Anthony--take 60 shots a game and make 10. KD shoots a very respectable 48% from the floor, which is especially impressive considering that the majority of his shots come from the perimeter. And there is nothing selfish about Durant’s attitude toward the scoring title; the UT alum continually makes comments such as, “I can’t emphasize any more, I really don’t care about [the scoring title]. I’d rather be in the playoffs.” Not the reaction you would expect from a 21-year old kid, but that is just the type of guy Kevin Durant is. A lot of great scorers are very effective on the offensive end because they don’t put in any effort in on defense and just play what my dad likes to call “swinging-gate defense” (which is always letting the man you are guarding to blow right by you). Durant, on the other hand, is a defensive nightmare because he has those ridiculously long arms (7’6” arm span) and seems to get his hands on everything. Durant has increased his steals, blocks, and rebounds from last season and his effort on the defensive end is one of the reasons that the Thunder will be making their first playoff appearance in 6 years.
There is a lot to be said about this 21-year old phenomenon but watch this video:
Yes, he drops 45 points, but what really impresses me is the way he handled the post game interview. As you can see in the video, Durant was clearly fouled on that last second shot and his team was cheated out of a win, yet in the interview KD does not make one comment about the refs. He just says it was a fun game and that the Thunder need to focus on their next game. I guarantee you that 99% of NBA players in his position end up with a fine the next morning because of their comments about the refs. Any GM would sell their mother to have a guy like Kevin Durant to build their franchise around. I think everyone can agree that KD is going to do some great things in the future, like humbly winning the scoring title.
-The Southern Gentleman
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