duncan228
02-24-2010, 02:09 AM
Thunder's Durant wows others, not self (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Thunders_Durant_wows_others_not_self.html)
Mike Monroe
Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star forward who brings the NBA's No. 2 scoring average into tonight's game against the Spurs at the AT&T Center, is still young enough to fidget and blush when confronted by praise he deems unworthy.
Tell him that Tim Duncan, the Spurs' two-time MVP, insists he be included in any conversation about this season's award, and the former Texas star rolls his eyes and drops his head.
When he lifts it to answer, you halfway expect his response will be, “Aw, shucks,” and it nearly is.
Instead, he praises Duncan, whose work ethic and consistency he has used as a model for his own development.
“Aw, I don't think so,” he says. “I think he should. He's above me in that conversation, along with other guys. They've been carrying their teams, and they continue to win this year.
“I'm just trying to solidify my team and myself. It's an honor for him to say that, but it's something I'm not thinking about, first off, and it's a long way from happening.”
Durant is right about this season's MVP. Cleveland's LeBron James is a heavy favorite to repeat. Nevertheless, the Thunder's surge, combined with Durant's numbingly consistent scoring, merits inclusion among this season's candidates.
“The way he's playing and scoring the ball, he's a candidate right now,” Duncan said. “For the MVP, you're going to ask someone to do a little more than he does, rebounding numbers or assist numbers, whatever it may be. And obviously, with the MVP race, it's going to be hard for anyone else to do anything while LeBron is still alive. But Kevin's definitely pushing that envelope right now.”
Durant has a string of 29 consecutive games in which he has scored at least 25 points. The Thunder's record during Durant's run: 21-8.
No team has been hotter this month than the Thunder, no player more productive than Durant.
When the Thunder made Durant the No. 2 pick in 2007, few doubted he would be a top 10 NBA scorer. That he now threatens to become the youngest single-season scoring champion in league history is a testament to a work ethic Thunder coach Scott Brooks cites with a degree of astonishment.
“With Kevin, it's like that movie ‘Groundhog Day,'” Brooks said. “He came in three years ago with a mindset he was going to improve every day, and he's stuck with it.”
Durant's offensive skills needed only burnishing. That he has bought into Brooks' emphasis on daily defensive improvement has elevated him to potential All-NBA status.
“He came this year with a defensive mindset, which has helped us develop defensively as a team,” Brooks said. “We're winning games because we're defending now.”
Sam Presti, the former Spurs assistant general manager who runs the Thunder's basketball operations, marvels at the maturity with which Durant approaches his development.
“For a younger player to be able to grasp and commit to the grind and commit to focusing on what's in front of him, as opposed to what might be down the road, is remarkable,” he said. “I generally think he enjoys the deliberate process and not just the outcomes.”
Durant's humility makes a difference, too. He spent All-Star Weekend in Dallas taking in everything, observing players like Duncan, who was making his 11th straight All-Star start.
Durant had to work to feel he belonged.
“I don't know when I will, to be honest,” he said. “I guess when I'm an All-Star starter like those guys, but I don't really see myself on their level. They've done great things in this league so far, and I've really done nothing.
“My team is getting better, but until you solidify yourself as a playoff team every year, going deep in the playoffs every year, that's when you can say you're one of the top players in the league.
“I've got a lot to prove, and my team has a lot to prove.”
Mike Monroe
Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder's All-Star forward who brings the NBA's No. 2 scoring average into tonight's game against the Spurs at the AT&T Center, is still young enough to fidget and blush when confronted by praise he deems unworthy.
Tell him that Tim Duncan, the Spurs' two-time MVP, insists he be included in any conversation about this season's award, and the former Texas star rolls his eyes and drops his head.
When he lifts it to answer, you halfway expect his response will be, “Aw, shucks,” and it nearly is.
Instead, he praises Duncan, whose work ethic and consistency he has used as a model for his own development.
“Aw, I don't think so,” he says. “I think he should. He's above me in that conversation, along with other guys. They've been carrying their teams, and they continue to win this year.
“I'm just trying to solidify my team and myself. It's an honor for him to say that, but it's something I'm not thinking about, first off, and it's a long way from happening.”
Durant is right about this season's MVP. Cleveland's LeBron James is a heavy favorite to repeat. Nevertheless, the Thunder's surge, combined with Durant's numbingly consistent scoring, merits inclusion among this season's candidates.
“The way he's playing and scoring the ball, he's a candidate right now,” Duncan said. “For the MVP, you're going to ask someone to do a little more than he does, rebounding numbers or assist numbers, whatever it may be. And obviously, with the MVP race, it's going to be hard for anyone else to do anything while LeBron is still alive. But Kevin's definitely pushing that envelope right now.”
Durant has a string of 29 consecutive games in which he has scored at least 25 points. The Thunder's record during Durant's run: 21-8.
No team has been hotter this month than the Thunder, no player more productive than Durant.
When the Thunder made Durant the No. 2 pick in 2007, few doubted he would be a top 10 NBA scorer. That he now threatens to become the youngest single-season scoring champion in league history is a testament to a work ethic Thunder coach Scott Brooks cites with a degree of astonishment.
“With Kevin, it's like that movie ‘Groundhog Day,'” Brooks said. “He came in three years ago with a mindset he was going to improve every day, and he's stuck with it.”
Durant's offensive skills needed only burnishing. That he has bought into Brooks' emphasis on daily defensive improvement has elevated him to potential All-NBA status.
“He came this year with a defensive mindset, which has helped us develop defensively as a team,” Brooks said. “We're winning games because we're defending now.”
Sam Presti, the former Spurs assistant general manager who runs the Thunder's basketball operations, marvels at the maturity with which Durant approaches his development.
“For a younger player to be able to grasp and commit to the grind and commit to focusing on what's in front of him, as opposed to what might be down the road, is remarkable,” he said. “I generally think he enjoys the deliberate process and not just the outcomes.”
Durant's humility makes a difference, too. He spent All-Star Weekend in Dallas taking in everything, observing players like Duncan, who was making his 11th straight All-Star start.
Durant had to work to feel he belonged.
“I don't know when I will, to be honest,” he said. “I guess when I'm an All-Star starter like those guys, but I don't really see myself on their level. They've done great things in this league so far, and I've really done nothing.
“My team is getting better, but until you solidify yourself as a playoff team every year, going deep in the playoffs every year, that's when you can say you're one of the top players in the league.
“I've got a lot to prove, and my team has a lot to prove.”