Kevin Durant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kevin Durant
Position Small Forward
Height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg)
League NBA
Team Seattle SuperSonics
Jersey #35
Born September 29, 1988 (1988-09-29) (age 19)
Washington, D.C.
Nationality American
High school Montrose Christian School,
Rockville, Maryland (2005-2006)
Oak Hill Academy,
Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
College Texas
Draft 2nd overall, 2007
Seattle SuperSonics
Pro career 2007–present
Awards
Official profile Info Page

Kevin Wayne Durant (born September 29, 1988 in Washington, D.C.) is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics.

A 6'9" shooting guard/small forward, Durant was the consensus 2007 National College Player of the Year, in addition to being selected as the 2006-2007 Big 12 Player of the Year, amongst other awards. After his freshman season at the University of Texas[8], Durant opted to enter the NBA Draft,[8] where he was selected second overall by the Seattle Supersonics. There, he went on to claim the NBA Rookie of the Year Award after his debut season.

Durant signed an endorsement contract with Nike in 2007[9] and wears size 18 shoes.[10]

Contents

[edit] High school

A basketball player from his earliest days, Durant played for a successful Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) youth basketball team, the PG Jaguars. The Jaguars won multiple national championships with Durant and fellow future blue chip recruits Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Chris Braswell (Georgetown). Durant wore, and continues to wear, the #35 jersey in honor of his childhood mentor and AAU coach, Charles Craig, who was murdered at age 35.[11] Durant later moved on to play AAU basketball with fellow McDonald's All American Tywon Lawson (North Carolina) for the DC Blue Devils. During this time Durant also starred for the Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland.[12] At Montrose, Durant led the team in scoring and was named the 2006 All-Met Player of the Year in Boys' Basketball by The Washington Post. Durant also played with current Maryland point guard Greivis Vasquez while at Montrose. Vetter described Durant as a hard working player, complete with size, shooting skills and ball handling skills.[13] Durant also was named a McDonald's All American and named co-MVP of the 2006 McDonald's All American game along with Chase Budinger. Behind Greg Oden, Durant was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect.[14][15]

[edit] College

A 6'9" small forward with a 7'4¾" wingspan[16], Durant was one of four freshman starters for the University of Texas basketball team. Durant started in all 35 games of the season, which culminated with a loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament to University of Southern California. Texas finished third in the conference, with a 12-4 record and was the runner-up in the 2007 Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament.[17]

Although he had a slender frame, Durant frequently used it to his advantage by posting up bigger players, while shooting over smaller guards.[18]. ESPN analyst Dick Vitale praised Durant as the "most prolific offensive skilled big perimeter" ever and proceeded to compare Durant's game to those of current NBA stars like Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowitzki.[19] After a 35 point, 23 rebound winning performance against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, head coach Bob Knight described Durant as quick, fast and mobile, and being "really good".[20] Texas coach Rick Barnes admitted to rarely calling set plays for Durant, instead relying on Durant himself and on his teammates to find him within the flow of the offense.[21]

Durant was widely hailed by the media as the Big 12's top freshman and a top candidate to be named Freshman of the Year.[22] He averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the Texas Longhorns. In Big 12 matches he averaged 28.9 points per game and 12.5 rebounds. His college career high for scoring was 37 points, which he has achieved on four occasions. Durant had twenty 30-point games his freshman year, including a losing effort against Kansas for the regular season Big 12 title.

In March 2007, Durant was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year,[2] and received the Oscar Robertson Trophy[4] and the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy,[5] becoming the first freshman to win each of these awards. On March 30, 2007, he was selected as the Associated Press college player of the year, becoming the first freshman and the first Texas athlete to receive this award since its inception in 1961.[2][23] On April 1, 2007 he became the first freshman to receive the Naismith Award[24] and on April 7, 2007, won the John R. Wooden Award.[7]

In late February 2007, Durant received an invitation to the Team USA Basketball training camp, becoming the second freshman after Oden to achieve this.[25]

Less than a week after being drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics, The University of Texas announced the retirement of Durant's #35 jersey. The number will now hang in the rafters at the Frank Erwin Center along with the #11 of former Longhorn great T. J. Ford.[26]

[edit] NBA career

Durant declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft on April 11, 2007 and signed his first professional contract on May 25 with the Upper Deck, Co., who later heralded Durant to be the focus of their 2007-08 NBA trading card line. Durant was also announced as the coverboy of the new NCAA March Madness 2008 video game by EA Sports.[27]

On June 28, 2007, Durant was taken second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics.[8] In the proceeding month, Durant went on to sign a seven year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike - a rookie deal only surpassed by LeBron James' contract with Nike.[28] In doing so, Durant reportedly turned down a potential $70 million contract with Adidas, opting for Nike since he had worn them all his life.

After playing only a handful of games in the NBA Summer League, Durant was chosen to trial for Team USA and participate in the State Farm USA basketball challenge, alongside NBA all-stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard.[29] Although Durant held his own in scoring 22 points for the Blue team in one game, he was ultimately dropped when the roster was trimmed to the twelve player limit.[30] Coach Mike Krzyzewski cited the experience of the remaining players as the deciding factor in making the cut.[30]

On October 31, 2007, Durant made his NBA debut with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. On November 16, 2007 Durant made his first game winning shot of his NBA career with a key 3-pointer to beat the Atlanta Hawks in double overtime. Durant finished with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.[31] On November 30, 2007, Durant scored a career high 35 points to beat the Indiana Pacers.[32] In a game against the Denver Nuggets, he flirted with a triple double as he came up with 37 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. In the last game of his rookie season, Durant finally recorded his first double-double of his career with a career high 42 points, a career high 13 rebounds and also added 5 assists. In addition to leading all rookies in scoring for the season, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Month for November, December (2007), January and March (2008).[33] Durant's 20.3 point per game season average broke the SuperSonics 40-year old rookie record set by Bob Rule during the 1967-68 season.

On April 30, 2008, Associated Press reported that Durant was chosen to receive the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for the 2007-08 season.[34]

[edit] Awards

[edit] High school

[edit] College

[edit] NBA

  • Rookie of the Month November, December (2007), January, March & April (2008)
  • 2007-08 Rookie of the Year Award winner
  • 2007-08 All-NBA Rookie First Team.

[edit] Statistics

Year Team Games Played Minutes/Game Points/Game Rebounds/Game Assists/Game Blocks/Game Steals/Game Fouls/Game Turnovers/Game
2006-07 University of Texas 35 35.9 25.8 11.1 1.3 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.8
Year Team Games Played Minutes/Game Points/Game Rebounds/Game Assists/Game Blocks/Game Steals/Game Fouls/Game Turnovers/Game
2007-08 Seattle SuperSonics 80 34.23 20.3 4.4 2.4 0.9 1.0 1.5 2.9

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Dre (2007-03-07). ESPN All-American Team And POY. Serious Hoops. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  2. ^ a b c d National Association of Basketball Coaches (March 21, 2007). "Longhorns' Freshman Durant Named NABC Division I Player of the Year" (pdf). Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Chip. ""Durant, Law on All-America team"", Dallas Morning News, 2007-03-27. Retrieved on 2007-03-27. 
  4. ^ a b c United States Basketball Writers Association (2007-03-27). "USBWA names Durant, Bennett as player, coach of the year". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  5. ^ a b c Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky (2007-03-27). "Durant Named Player Of The Year". Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  6. ^ ""Durant wins Naismith Award"", Austin American Statesman, 2007-04-01. Retrieved on 2007-04-01. 
  7. ^ a b c Rosner, Mark (2007-04-07). Durant receives Wooden Award. Bevo Beat. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved on 2007-04-07.
  8. ^ a b c Durant to declare for NBA Draft. Texas Longhorns Athletics. Retrieved on 2007-04-15.
  9. ^ Kevin Durant signs with Nike. boston.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
  10. ^ Why Kevin Durant came to Austin. statesmen.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  11. ^ UT's Durant: righteous talent SPORTSDAY. TexasSports.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
  12. ^ Picker, David. "In the N.B.U.'s Age Game, Colleges Are Big Winners", The New York Times, April 22, 2006. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Durant, a forward at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Md., has heard the endless chatter about where he would have been selected in the N.B.A. draft in June."
  13. ^ Before they were stars: Kevin Durant. Rivals.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  14. ^ Basketball Recruiting: Top Recruits. ScoutHoops.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.
  15. ^ Prospect Ranking: Final Rivals150 Class of 8181. Rivals.com (2006-05-02). Retrieved on 2007-03-07.
  16. ^ Report: Durant's workout raises eyebrows at camp updated June 6, 2007
  17. ^ Season Statistics. TexasSports.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
  18. ^ Texas freshman Durant romping through Big 12. Arkcity.net. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  19. ^ Texas' Durant 'once-in-a-lifetime' talent. USAtoday.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  20. ^ Durant Makes Longhorns' History in Win. Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  21. ^ Durant, Boggan star in Big 12 clash. Dallasnews.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
  22. ^ Goodman, Jeff (2006-09-01). Longhorns' Durant is simply special (pdf). FoxSports.net. Archived from the original on 2006-09-01. Retrieved on 2007-03-07.
  23. ^ Brown, Chip. "UT's Durant racking up awards", Dallas Morning News, 2007-03-28. Retrieved on 2007-03-28. "Durant is the first freshman to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Rupp Trophy." 
  24. ^ a b Brown, Chip. "Durant named NABC player of the year", Dallas Morning News, 2007-03-22. Retrieved on 2007-03-22. 
  25. ^ Tomasson, Chris. "Dantley given Hall of Fame support", Rocky Mountain News, 2007-02-17. Retrieved on 2007-03-07. "Colangelo said he plans to invite University of Texas player Kevin Durant to Team USA training camp this summer." 
  26. ^ Rosner, Mark. "Durant's jersey to be retired", Austin American Statesman, 2007-07-03. Retrieved on 2007-07-03. 
  27. ^ ""Durant featured on video game cover"", Austin American Statesman, 2007-06-27. Retrieved on 2007-07-25. 
  28. ^ McDonald, Jeff. "Longhorns Mailbag: UT worth millions to Durant", San Antonio Express-News, 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2007-07-31. 
  29. ^ McMenamin, Dave. "Team USA: Durant Better Than Advertised", NBA.com, 2007-07-25. Retrieved on 2007-07-31. 
  30. ^ a b Mahoney, Brian. "Durant, Collison dropped from U.S. team", USA Today, 2007-08-26. Retrieved on 2007-08-29. 
  31. ^ N/A. "SuperSonics 126, Hawks 123", ESPN.com, 2007-11-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  32. ^ Sonics ride Durant's 35 to first home win
  33. ^ ESPN - Kevin Durant Stats, News, Photos - Seattle SuperSonics - NBA Basketball
  34. ^ AP Source: Durant to be selected NBA rookie of the year
  35. ^ John R. Wooden Award announces the 2006-07 All-American Team. John R. Wooden Award (2007-03-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-28.
  36. ^ a b Final Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards For 2006-07 Announced (March 5). Big 12 Conference (March 5, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  37. ^ Big 12 Conference (2007-03-04). "Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards Announced" (pdf). Press release. Retrieved on 2007-03-27.
  38. ^ "Durant, Bennett earn AP honors", Sports Illustrated, 2007-03-30. Retrieved on 2007-04-02. 

[edit] External links

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Awards
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 Naismith College Player of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 John R. Wooden Award
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
P. J. Tucker		 Big 12 Conference
Men's Basketball
Player of the Year
2007		 Succeeded by
'
Preceded by
J. J. Redick
Adam Morrison		 Oscar Robertson Trophy
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
J. J. Redick		 Adolph Rupp Trophy
2007		 Succeeded by
Tyler Hansbrough
Preceded by
Brandon Roy		 NBA Rookie of the Year
2008		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
v • d • e
Seattle SuperSonics current roster

0 Dupree | 4 Collison | 8 Ridnour | 15 Gelabale | 16 Elson | 18 Sene | 21 Wilkins | 22 Green | 25 Watson | 27 Petro | 31 Swift | 35 Durant | 42 Marshall | 44 Griffin | 54 Wilcox | Coach Carlesimo
v • d • e
2007 NBA Draft
Draft Templates
83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 89 • 90 • 91 • 92 • 93 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99 • 00 • 01 • 02 • 03 • 04 • 05 • 06 • 07 • 08
v • d • e
NBA Rookie of the Year Award
1953: Meineke | 1954: Felix | 1955: Pettit | 1956: Stokes | 1957: Heinsohn | 1958: Sauldsberry | 1959: Baylor | 1960: Chamberlain | 1961: Robertson | 1962: Bellamy | 1963: Dischinger | 1964: Lucas | 1965: Reed | 1966: Barry | 1967: Bing | 1968: Monroe | 1969: Unseld | 1970: Alcindor | 1971: Cowens & Petrie | 1972: Wicks | 1973: McAdoo | 1974: DiGregorio | 1975: Wilkes | 1976: Adams | 1977: Dantley | 1978: Davis | 1979: Ford | 1980: Bird | 1981: Griffith | 1982: Williams | 1983: Cummings | 1984: Sampson | 1985: Jordan | 1986: Ewing | 1987: Person | 1988: Jackson | 1989: Richmond | 1990: Robinson | 1991: Coleman | 1992: Johnson | 1993: O'Neal | 1994: Webber | 1995: Hill & Kidd | 1996: Stoudamire | 1997: Iverson | 1998: Duncan | 1999: Carter | 2000: Brand & Francis | 2001: Miller | 2002: Gasol | 2003: Stoudemire | 2004: James | 2005: Okafor | 2006: Paul | 2007: Roy | 2008: Durant


Persondata
NAME Kevin Durant
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kevin Wayne Durant
SHORT DESCRIPTION Collegiate basketball player, winner of multiple awards.
DATE OF BIRTH September 29, 1988
PLACE OF BIRTH Washington, D.C.
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH