Kevin Durant News: Pro Sports Daily

Kevin Durant is seeing more of the end-game

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November 6

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant walked out of the Ford Center on Tuesday night, hopped into the back of a car with his father and two brothers by his side and didn't say a word as the foursome traveled north, from downtown Oklahoma City to his Edmond home. The Thunder's agonizing 101-98 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers stung too much to speak, and Durant's two airballs in the final seconds of regulation, and overtime became the inescapable conclusion to his miserable final 24 minutes. "I just kept to myself," Durant said. "People were text messaging me and I just left it alone and went right to sleep."It wasn't until Thursday morning that Durant recuperated from the repulsive feeling of what he later ..."

Kevin Durant garners respect from Kevin McHale, Chris Webber

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November 5

The Oklahoman

""He's explosive and he is on a young team," Webber said. "And believe it or not, he can go to the basket. Even though he is skinny and has a lot of development to do, he goes to the basket like (Scottie) Pippen, and he has a right or left hand just like (Tracy McGrady). I really like his game. I think Carmelo (Anthony) is probably the easiest to score. But this guy (Durant) is a top five scorer in the NBA."McHale compared Durant to George Gervin."You look at him and think, 'Oh I'm going to have my way with him.' And he drops 35 on you."Webber stopped well short of predicting Durant is good enough to lead the Thunder to the playoffs this season."What coast are they on?" Webber asked. "It's ..."

For Kevin Durant, the shooting has never been this bad

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November 2

The Oklahoman

columnist Berry Tramel

"For one night, Greg Oden got the best of Kevin Durant in the eternal dual of the 2007 NBA Draft's top two picks. Of course, for one night, most anyone who ever laced up sneakers would have got the best of the Thunder Wonder. Durant missed 18 of his 21 shots Sunday night at the Ford Center, the chief reason the good guys lost 83-74 to Portland and mathematically eliminated themselves from an unbeaten season. Don't laugh. You might see an 82-0 season before you see a superstar go 3-for-21 again. The last NBA player to take at least 20 shots and shoot worse than 14.3 percent was Detroit's Rip Hamilton, who was 3-of-22 (against Portland) in December 2004. Tossing the ball through the hoop from ..."

Is OKC Thunder forward Kevin Durant the next big thing?

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October 25

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant sat at his locker before a preseason game and blankly stared ahead as he pondered the position he finds himself in. The player many project as the NBA's next big star enters his third season aware of how quickly acclaim can turn to condemnation. "They built me up. Now it's time for them to break me down," said Durant, the Thunder's 21-year-old wunderkind. "So I'm getting ready for that." But make no mistake, in no way is that a concession statement. Durant is fully prepared to meet the lofty expectations placed upon him as Oklahoma City opens the 2009-10 NBA season. The 6-foot-9 forward is supposed to shatter the feats of his sophomore season, when he ranked sixth in scoring ..."

Thunder exercise contract options on four players, including Kevin Durant

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October 24

The Oklahoman

"The Oklahoma City Thunder has exercised the fourth-year options on forwards Kevin Durant and Jeff Green and the third-year options on guard Russell Westbrook and forward D.J. White. By exercising the options, the Thunder can keep all four players through at least the 2010-11 NBA season. Oklahoma City had until Oct. 31 to exercise the options, or each player would have become unrestricted free agents next summer.The Thunder holds fourth-year options on Westbrook and White, but Durant and Green are now eligible to sign contract extensions next summer. The team has until Oct. 31, 2010, to sign Durant and Green to extensions, or both players will go into the summer of 2011 as restricted free ..."

David Stern recognizes Kevin Durant

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October 24

The Oklahoman

"During his annual international preseason "state of the union" teleconference Friday afternoon, NBA commissioner David Stern mentioned only three players by name during 35 minutes of questions and answers - Sacramento's Omri Casspi as Israel's first NBA player and Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose as rising stars. Stern's comment was in reference to a question about how recent rule changes have opened the floor, allowing the NBA to produce a more entertaining product."Into our system comes players, not just the established stars, or the great veterans, or the international standouts, but this year's rookies and the Kevin Durants and Derrick Roses," Stern said. "It's an extraordinary group of ..."

Spurs spoil Durant's homecoming

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October 21

San Antonio Express-News

"He dressed in the same familiar locker, jogged down the same familiar hallway, took the same familiar floor with the same familiar state outline at halfcourt. As Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant ran through the smoke and into the Erwin Center before Tuesday night's exhibition against the Spurs, he half expected a non-existent band to hit the opening notes of "Texas Fight!" And when the student section struck up a chorus of "One more year!" during one of Durant's first-half free throws? "It almost felt like I'd never left," Durant said. This night was about Durant, who flashed like a comet through Austin during the 2006-07 college basketball season, his lone collegiate season, leaving ..."

Kevin Durant true to his school

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October 19

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant grew emotional as he spoke to reporters Sunday afternoon. The topic: his return to the Frank Erwin Center on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Texas. On Tuesday night, the Thunder forward will return to the building in which he began building his basketball legacy when Oklahoma City hosts San Antonio. The last time Durant traveled to UT to be honored he cried as the school lifted his No. 35 jersey to the rafters during a halftime ceremony to retire his number. "That's something you don't come past every day, people that get their jersey retired at a big-time university like that," Durant said. "It's a blessing to go back." In Durant's final home game as a ..."

Nick Collison concerned about ankle; Kevin Durant plagued by foul trouble

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October 15

The Oklahoman

"Collison concerned about ankle? Sidelined since camp opened more than two weeks ago by a severely sprained ankle, veteran forward Nick Collison was asked if he's concerned with the season opener less than two weeks away. "I haven't even practiced, yet, so I'm definitely going to be behind," Collison said. "Yeah, I'm concerned. I'll be fine eventually. You never want to be behind. But you also want to be 100 percent. I'm doing pretty good with the pain. It's the explosiveness is what I don't have." Collison hopes to play in the Thunder's next preseason game, Monday night in Houston, but said he will play only if he's assured his ankle has healed. FOUL TROUBLE Kevin Durant scored a ..."

Kevin Durant expresses frustration with critics

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October 12

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant used his Twitter account Sunday to express frustration with critics who question his individual abilities and the Thunder as a team. Durant didn't reveal who he was directing his series of messages to, but his target appeared to be a recent critical analysis piece written by ESPN.com that examined his talents and worth to a franchise. On Friday, the Web site's popular NBA blog, TrueHoop, ran a post titled, "The Kevin Durant Conundrum." It explored Durant's low plus/minus numbers and concluded, "Anyway you slice the +/- numbers, he's one of the Thunder's worst players." Durant responded: "Everybody that is doubtin' me as a player and my team as a whole...all I can say is that ..."

Kevin Durant, Jeff Green ol' guys now

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October 5

The Oklahoman

"When Thunder general manager Sam Presti traded Damien Wilkins to Minnesota as part of the Etan Thomas deal in late July, it left Nick Collison as the only player remaining from the roster he inherited in 2007. At the time, that small detail was worth noting because it signaled how quickly Presti has put his stamp on the franchise in his efforts to rebuild the Thunder into a perennial winner. But now that we sit two days away from the preseason opener — and three weeks away from the regular season — the real significance of that deal has taken shape with the roster now set. Kevin Durant and Jeff Green are now the team's unquestioned leaders. They trail only Collison as the franchise's most ..."

The Thunder's Rising Star, Still in Hiding

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September 23

New York Times

"Kevin Durant, all arms and legs, is behind the wheel of his GMC Savana. He spins it through the streets of the city where he works, a place where solitude and stability are rolled into one. The car is nearly large enough to have its own ZIP code and has trouble staying confined to one lane. The windows are tinted, but they need not be. Durant is one of the N.B.A.'s fastest-rising figures in a league in which a player's star power often develops before his maturity. Yet the 6-foot-9-inch Durant, last season's sixth-leading scorer, hides here in plain sight. Many predict Durant to evolve further this season, and yet he attends movies without being recognized. He parks and enters the team's ..."

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant finishes third in NBA's Most Improved Player voting

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May 13

The Oklahoman

"Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant finished third in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player, an award that went to Indiana forward Danny Granger, the league announced Tuesday. Granger received 364 of a possible 605 points, including 48 first-place votes, from a panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. The New Jersey Nets' Devin Harris finished second with 339 points (43 first-place votes), followed by Durant with 83 points (six first-place votes)."

Durant presents challenge for Nuggets

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April 8

Denver Post

"Yes, tonight's opponent for the Nuggets is the Oklahoma City Thunder, which this season has been more like the Oklahoma City Drizzle. But the team has Kevin Durant, the NBA's fourth-leading scorer at 25.6 points per game and, if you will, a Nuggets nemesis. This season, he has played twice against Denver, scoring 33 points with nine rebounds and five assists in the first, followed by 31, eight and a season-high seven assists in the second. Denver won both those games, but both were won on a final-possession Carmelo Anthony shot (the Nuggets won the third game, too, but Durant didn't play). Also, Durant played his first-ever NBA game at the Pepsi Center and had one of his greatest NBA games ..."

Here's a vote for Thunder's Kevin Durant

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April 6

The Oklahoman

"Two of the candidates for this year's Most Improved Player Award strutted their stuff inside the Ford Center on Sunday night, but neither Thunder forward Kevin Durant nor Indiana's Danny Granger will take home the hardware. New Jersey point guard Devin Harris has all but accepted the trophy.But he won't get my first-place vote. Durant will sit atop my three-man ballot even if he has no shot at victory.That's because no player has improved across the board like Durant, who's gone from solid as a rookie to spectacular as a sophomore. His maturation, however, has become the untold story of the Thunder's dismal inaugural season in Oklahoma City.Sunday night's 117-99 loss to the Pacers dropped ..."

Trio share close bond

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April 5

The Oklahoman

"Sixty-one minutes prior to tip-off inside the Ford Center, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook will rise from their lockers, exit the Thunder's dressing room and take a short walk down the arena's corridor. Their destination is chapel, and along the way the trio that has become the future of Oklahoma City's NBA franchise will tease one another, mockingly calling each other names while playfully pushing and shoving.On a recent March night, when Durant lagged behind while wrapping up an interview with a reporter, Westbrook shrieked "Keeeevin!" just to ensure his teammate didn't breach their pre-game routine."It's kind of like a brother relationship amongst those guys," said ..."

Kevin Durant on fire

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April 1

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 31 points. The former Longhorn, 12-of-17 from the field before missing his final two shots, suffered a bruised hip in the first half but still logged 44 minutes. "I really don't know which play it was," Durant said. "I remember running downcourt and it was bothering me a little. I couldn't run like normal. I just wanted to stick it out and fight through it. After I get some treatment (Wednesday) hopefully I'll be all right."Westbrook's double-double Coach Scott Brooks and teammates felt Russell Westbrook turned in one of his better games of the season (16 points, 10 assists, two turnovers)."With a guy like him, when he's able to find guys it makes it ..."

Durant OK with Thunder

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March 29

Boston Globe

"Oklahoma City is small compared with most NBA markets. While the Hornets played there temporarily for two seasons because of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, full-time NBA basketball didn't arrive until this season. And with all due respect to Oklahoma City, it's not Seattle, and it's a lot less glamorous than most cities in the league. There were a lot of unknowns for Kevin Durant concerning what basketball and life would be like in Oklahoma. But in a short time, the budding superstar has come to a conclusion. "I love it," said Durant in a telephone interview. "The weather is unpredictable. You don't know when it's going to snow or rain. But the people here are nice. Nice people. I ..."

Durant Is Just a 'Big Kid' With a Future Even Bigger

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March 25

Washington Post

"Banned from bowling because of a sprained right ankle, Kevin Durant was at the back of a bowling alley here in the Bricktown area of downtown one recent evening, doing what he usually does when he's not playing basketball -- playing the Xbox video game "NBA 2K9." Durant clicked his video game controller and, with the regularity of the falling pins, confused his opponent, 13-year-old Alex Lemcke, by repeating the words, "Slap that." It wasn't trash talk so much as a way to motivate Durant through what turned out to be a more competitive than expected game. After nervously watching Lemcke's computer-generated Kobe Bryant miss a potential game-tying three-pointer, the real life Durant ..."

Kevin Durant trying to find his shot

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March 19

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant scored a game-high 28 points. Break it down, though, and Durant experienced a second-half slump in a 103-96 loss to Chicago on Wednesday night at the Ford Center. Compared to Bulls rookie point guard Derrick Rose, who didn't miss in the second half, Durant was 1-of-9 after halftime."I was in a good rhythm the first half but couldn't hit a shot the second half," Durant said. "I have to hit those shots when I get them. I had good position to make shots, wide open shots. I just didn't hit them. I've got to come back and work hard (Thursday)."Durant has averaged 25.0 points in three games since returning from a sprained ankle that sidelined him for seven games. But his shooting ..."

Kevin Durant ready to return

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March 14

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant is no longer concerned about his right ankle. After missing seven games, four practices and four shoot-around sessions while recovering from a grade II sprain, the Thunder's leading scorer is now dealing with an entirely new issue as he inches toward a return to the lineup."My wind is terrible right now," Durant admitted Wednesday, following a pre-game workout in Denver. "I was tired out there. It was one those tires where I didn't know where I was at. I was dazed."Durant, who has been sidelined since rolling his ankle on Feb. 27, could rejoin the Thunder tonight at Phoenix. The team has upgraded Durant to probable, indicating he likely will be a go against the Suns. When the ..."

Thunder's Kevin Durant close to returning, could play Saturday

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March 13

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant's sprained right ankle is close to 100 percent, and the Thunder could have its leading scorer back in the lineup Saturday at Phoenix. Durant, who has missed the past seven games, is expected to practice Friday in Phoenix, his first practice since sustaining the injury on Feb. 27. If there is no pain or swelling in his foot Saturday morning he likely will return to the starting lineup against the Suns. "I'm feeling good right now," Durant said. "It's a slight pinch but it's nothing I can't play on. I'm ready to get back out there as soon as possible." Before Wednesday's game at Denver, Durant increased his pre-game workout to include running, cutting, full-court dribbling and ..."

With Kevin Durant, Jeff Green out, OKC Thunder has found a way to win

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March 9

The Oklahoman

"With the Sixers threatening to spoil another improbable Thunder victory, Kyle Weaver stepped in. Well, actually, he swooped in out of nowhere.The Thunder guard streaked across the court to steal a pass and squash a for-sure fast-break dunk. That basket would've cut the Thunder lead to a dozen with just over two minutes left in the game and swung the momentum firmly in the Sixers' favor.Instead, the Thunder cruised to victory, 89-74.Another win without Kevin Durant and Jeff Green.Another nod to just how hard this team is playing."We're playing with a lot of tenacity," Thunder coach Scott Brooks acknowledged. "Guys are really doing a good job of helping out."Weaver's steal, after all, was ..."

Kevin Durant's ankle improves

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March 3

The Oklahoman

"Wearing his recently released orange Nike shoes, Kevin Durant walked into the Ford Center on Monday night without crutches, with only a slight limp. That's a vast improvement from when Durant used crutches and wore a protective boot last weekend in Dallas and Memphis. After Durant suffered a severely sprained right ankle Friday night in Dallas, a team source said Durant suffered a grade II sprained ankle that would sideline him seven to 14 days."It's definitely improving," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "Young guys' bodies heal a lot quicker than older guys. Mentally, they think they can also heal quicker. But we're going to make sure he's 100 percent." The earliest Durant will return is ..."

Thunder to be without top two scorers tonight against Dallas

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March 2

The Oklahoman

"The Thunder will be facing Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks tonight without their two leading scorers. Jeff Green, hampered by a sore lower back, will not play. Kevin Durant remains sidelined with a severely sprained right ankle he suffered Friday night in a 110-108 overtime loss at Dallas."We know two of our leading scorers are out but guys are going to have an opportunity to fill in," said coach Scott Brooks. "I understand it won't be pretty at times. Guys will have to play hard with a lot of toughness. I look forward to guys stepping up tonight."Green, averaging 17.2 points, averaged 27.5 points the last two games when Durant has been sidelined. Green was the only Oklahoma City ..."

Kevin Durant to be out up to a month

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March 1

The Oklahoman

"Thunder coach Scott Brooks knows it won't be easy to tell last year's Rookie of the Year to sit on the bench. A team source said Kevin Durant suffered a grade II sprained ankle Friday night in an overtime loss in Dallas. It's the same type of sprain that sidelined Utah's Deron Williams for more than a month. Durant, though, isn't ruling out playing later this week."I don't like sitting out any games to be honest," Durant said Saturday night after the Thunder's 99-92 win over Memphis. "It was tough not to play tonight. If we didn't have a back-to-back maybe I might have played... It's feeling better from yesterday to today. I'm hoping I'll be good on Monday."Durant was on crutches Friday ..."

Thunder forward Kevin Durant to miss up to two weeks

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February 28

The Oklahoman

"Thunder forward Kevin Durant will miss up to two weeks with a Grade II ankle sprain, according to a team source. Durant is expected to miss seven to 14 days after rolling his right ankle in Friday’s game at Dallas when he stepped on the foot of Mavs forward Josh Howard while driving to the basket with 7:13 left in the first quarter. He remained in the game for about three minutes before walking off the court with a limp. Team officials said X-rays taken on Durant’s foot were negative, but Durant wore a protective boot on his right foot and walked with the aid of crutches following the Thunder’s 110-108 overtime loss. Grade II sprains can include damage or tearing of ligaments or a joint ..."

We are absolutely hooked on this Texas Longhorn

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February 28

The Oklahoman

columnist John Rohde

"Kevin Durant realized very quickly what Oklahoma is all about. Last Wednesday night, shortly before he was to have his No. 35 jersey retired at halftime of a Texas home game, someone asked Durant who was the most popular sports figure back in Oklahoma - Durant or OU's Blake Griffin."Come on now," Durant answered quickly. "The most popular athlete in Oklahoma is Sam Bradford."Durant then was asked who should have won the 2008 Heisman Trophy.Forever a Longhorn, Durant replied, "Oh, that's easy. Colt McCoy."Football remains king in Oklahoma, but thanks to the oozing personality and talent of Durant (26.3 ppg, 6.7 apg), the Thunder has made a rumble in our hearts if not the NBA standings ..."

Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant injured in Dallas

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February 28

The Oklahoman

"It's uncertain how long Thunder star Kevin Durant will be sidelined after he suffered a severely sprained ankle Friday night in a 110-108 overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Durant used crutches and wore a protective boot on his right foot when leaving American Airlines Center. Team officials list him as day-to-day, but the injury was severe enough that team officials took an X-ray, which was negative."Kevin is a tough guy," said teammate Jeff Green. "Hopefully, he doesn't rush back too soon. We have some great trainers to help him get back quickly. We've just got to make up for him (being out).""

Kevin Durant adds new a weapon

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February 26

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant began working on the newest addition to his offensive arsenal back on Oct. 11 during a preseason game at Golden State. Only now is he coming close to perfecting it.Durant is now baiting defenders into fouls and getting an easy trip to the free throw line at least once a game by sweeping the ball through his defender's arms. It's a move that San Antonio forward Tim Duncan has patented and players like Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Dwight Howard routinely use to get easy points at the foul line."It's a good move if the defender has an extended arm that's not vertically raised," said Thunder coach Scott Brooks. "Guys have to guard him close and squeeze up on him because he has ..."

Kevin Durant not chasing scoring title

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February 25

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant entered Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers scoring at least 30 points in eight of nine February games. He attributed his recent scoring binge to a new mentality. "I approach practice and shootarounds different than I did last year," Durant said. "I come out and practice hard. I go through shootarounds hard, like it's a full practice. I work out after practice and before. I get my shots up and I think that's helping. If I take that approach every night in the games, in practice and in shootarounds that's going to make our team better."Durant's scoring streak has led many to wonder if he will soon win a scoring title."That's not what I'm aiming towards," Durant said. ..."

Kevin Durant is turning heads

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February 22

The Oklahoman

"Early this season, most of the national attention surrounding the Thunder ranged from criticism for relocating from Seattle to ridicule for a 3-29 start. But with Kevin Durant putting on a show during All-Star weekend, and Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook showing progress, the Thunder is creating a buzz around the league.The Oklahoman contacted a dozen national NBA writers and broadcasters. The consensus was Durant is a franchise caliber player and Oklahoma City is a team on the rise."Durant looks like he's going to be a top 10 player in the league, maybe a top five depending on his defense," said Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated. "As the economy gets worse the next year or two, and more ..."

Kevin Durant wins H-O-R-S-E

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February 15

The Oklahoman

"Down to his final letter, Kevin Durant got hot to rally and win the inaugural NBA All-Star Game H-O-R-S-E competition Saturday afternoon. Durant scored a record 46 points in the rookie-sophomore game Friday night to earn MVP honors and followed with an improbable win on an outdoor court.When Durant had four letters early in the hour-long competition, Memphis' O.J. Mayo didn't have a letter and Atlanta's Joe Johnson had only one letter.Durant twice had to make shots - a double-pump layup and a one-legged, one-handed 3-pointer - to stave off elimination."I knew I couldn't hit those (fancy) layups Joe was hitting," Durant said. "I was just praying they would keep missing.""

Kevin Durant dazzles desert

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February 14

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant put on a show. Scoring 46 points, the most in any NBA All-Star Game event, Durant led the sophomores to a 122-116 win over the rookies Friday night at U.S. Airways Center."I approached this just like a regular game," Durant said. "I just wanted to go out there, have fun and be myself."Draining 17 of 25 shots, including six rim-rattling dunks and four 3-pointers, Durant surpassed Amare Stoudemire (36 points) and LeBron James (33) for most points in the game's 10-year history."He'll be playing on Sunday next year (in the All-Star game)," said TNT analyst Kenny Smith. "He's like a guard. He's a freak of nature. He has a lot of talent. Things come easy for him on the offensive ..."

Durant to play H-O-R-S-E

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February 11

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant will compete in a game of H-O-R-S-E at this weekend's All-Star festivities, the NBA announced Tuesday. Durant will be joined by Atlanta's Joe Johnson and Memphis rookie guard O.J. Mayo. "I'm excited," Durant said. "To be honest with you, I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm excited just to be on TV. But it should be fun. I might have to use my range a little bit, maybe shoot from the parking lot or something.""

Durant picked for NBA All-Star H-O-R-S-E competition

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February 10

The Oklahoman

"Oklahoma City Thunder star forward Kevin Durant will be among three competitors in the inaugural NBA All-Star H-O-R-S-E competition on Saturday in Phoenix, TNT announced today. Durant, last season's Rookie of the Year, will compete against NBA All-Star Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Rookie of the Year candidate OJ Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies. The event will air live as part of a special two-hour edition of "Inside the NBA," 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The show will be hosted by Ernie Johnson with analysts Kenny Smith and Chris Webber."

Durant's 46 not enough

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January 25

The Oklahoman

"One night after the NBA's All Star starters were announced, Thunder forward Kevin Durant presented his best argument for a spot on the Western Conference reserves. But Oklahoma City's 107-104 loss to the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers on Friday summed up exactly why that selection figures to be a remote possibility. Durant set career-highs with 46 points and 15 rebounds, but the Thunder's loss to the lowly Clippers kept Oklahoma City in the pits of the NBA standings at a league-worst 9-35. With a win, the Thunder would have moved ahead of the Clippers and Washington Wizards in the win column. Adding embarrassment to the disappointing loss, the Clippers were without injured customary ..."

Durant's time will come soon

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January 25

The Oklahoman

"After All-Star Game starters were announced, TNT analysts debated who should be reserves.The Thunder's Kevin Durant received one endorsement. Chris Webber said a team's win-loss record should not be a key factor. Webber is in the minority. Durant said as much when asked earlier this month if he expected to be chosen for the Feb. 15 game in Phoenix."No, I don't think so, because one of the requirements is the team has got to win," Durant said. "That's a big part of being an All-Star, leading your team to victories."When Durant made that statement the Thunder was 4-30. But Oklahoma City is 5-5 since those remarks.The reigning Rookie of the Year has worthy credentials. Durant made a strong ..."

Kevin Durant: "I'm not an all-star."

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January 6

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant said Monday he shouldn't be in this year's All-Star game despite ranking sixth in the league in scoring with a 23.8-point average. "No, I don't think so," Durant said when asked if he feels he should be an all-star. "Because one of the requirements is that the team's got to win. That's a big part of being an all-star, leading your team to victories. Hopefully, before I'm done in this league I can be one of those, but right now I'm just trying to help this team turn it around and get better."The Thunder is a league-worst 4-30 entering tonight's game against the New York Knicks."I definitely would trade (being a top 10 scorer) for being 30-4 right now," Durant said. "But it ..."

The Q with Kevin Durant

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December 22

Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Q: Do you care if you play at guard or forward? A: I think three [forward] is more my natural position, and I feel a lot more comfortable there. So I'm glad coach moved me back to my natural spot. Q: You've been working hard on your midrange game. Is there a player you watch and try to copy his midrange game? A: A lot of guys. LeBron has a good midrange jumper. [Denver's] Carmelo [Anthony]. Guys like [the Bucks'] Michael Redd, also [the Celtics'] Paul Pierce. I watch those guys. I learn a lot from them. Q: What kind of coach is Scott Brooks? A: He's so intense. It's like he's on the floor with us. Every time we come out of the huddle, he says he wishes he was on the floor with us. ..."

Durant is more patient, and it shows in his shooting percentages

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December 15

The Oklahoman

columnist Darnell Mayberry

"This time last season, Kevin Durant had already established a reputation as a chucker, a one-dimensional player who settled for long jumpers and showed little desire to display his all-round game. The assessment was a fair one. Twenty three percent of Durant's shot attempts over his first 30 games were 3-pointers. Only 10.1 percent of his shot attempts over his final 50 games came from deep.But Durant has built on his development from the second half of last year, and his improvement has been evident through the first 1months of his sophomore season. Durant is averaging more points and rebounds than he did a year ago. More importantly, his shooting percentages from the field and from ..."

Heat's Beasley, Thunder's Durant have friendly rivalry

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December 7

Miami Herald

"Heat rookie Michael Beasley and Thunder second-year swingman Kevin Durant grew up in suburban Washington as close friends and youth league teammates. Beasley said he felt little sympathy for what Durant is going through with the struggling Thunder, which lost 18 of its first 20 games. But Beasley is thankful that Durant, the No. 2 pick in the 2007 draft and last season's rookie of the year, provided advice about making the transition to the NBA. ''He told me the do's and don'ts,'' Beasley said. ``It was basically the same things everybody was telling me. But I took it personally because he's somebody I grew up with and look at like a brother.'' QUINN SPRAINS ANKLE Heat guard Chris Quinn ..."

Durant all smiles facing former teammate Beasley

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December 7

Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

"Despite entering Saturday's game at AmericanAirlines Arena with his Thunder a league-worst 2-18, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant had a smile on his face. Facing the Heat's Michael Beasley meant facing his former sidekick on the P.G. Jaguars, the AAU team the two helped dominate from when they were 10 to 14 years old. "That was probably the most fun I ever had, ever," Durant said of his time with Beasley on that Prince Georges (Md.) County team. "It was going to practice with your best friend and knowing practice was going to be fun. It was knowing we were going to win, so every game was going to be fun for us." After Durant went No. 2 in the 2007 Draft, Beasley was the No. 2 selection ..."

Durant helps Thunder top Grizzlies, snap streak

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November 30

Memphis Commercial Appeal

"They were supposed to provide some relief. The Oklahoma City Thunder were mired a 14-game losing streak a skid nearly three times as bad as the Grizzlies' experience. Instead, a team with the NBA's worst record spelled trouble - something Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni cautioned his troops about before Saturday night and exactly what the Thunder spent the second half of their 111-103 victory over the Grizzlies emphatically stating. Embarrassingly, the Griz dropped their sixth straight game and 10th in the last 11. This one is an easy candidate for the worst defeat of the young season. Not because the loss came against the Thunder. Credit them for outworking the Griz, executing better and ..."

Kevin Durant: 'I want to be here as long as possible'

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November 26

The Oklahoman

"Welcome to the Land of LeBron, where talk around here centers on whether King James will flee to The Big Apple in 2010 more than whether he can lead a suddenly dangerous Cavs team to an NBA title in 2008-09. The Cavs enter tonight's game against the Thunder coming off a 119-101 road thumping of the Knicks inside Madison Square Garden, giving New York fans and media a glimpse of the player who could become the most sought after free agent in NBA history and one the Knicks are desperately trying to get their hands on. The Knicks traded Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the Clippers last week and Jamal Crawford to the Warriors on the same day in an attempt to clear salary cap space for the ..."

Thunder's Kevin Durant becomes forward

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November 25

The Oklahoman

"Say goodbye to Kevin Durant the guard.The Thunder's reigning Rookie of the Year is now a small forward, finally playing the position many NBA minds think best fits his gangly 6-foot-10 frame and versatile skill set. In his first move as Thunder interim coach, Scott Brooks shifted Durant from shooting guard to small forward, bringing an end to a 92-game experiment designed to protect the rail thin Durant against bigger, stronger opponents.But Durant says he's ready to take on the move full time."I definitely am," Durant said. "That's my natural position. I've been playing that mostly my whole life. The last game I felt a lot more comfortable at (small forward), guarding (small forwards) and ..."

Kevin Durant to play tonight against New York Knicks

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November 14

The Oklahoman

"After missing his first game of the season Wednesday with a sprained left ankle, Thunder guard Kevin Durant said he expects to play tonight against the New York Knicks. Durant participated in Friday morning's shootaround with an ankle brace and left the session with his ankle wrapped in ice. But the reigning rookie of the year said the injury wasn't a problem. He even went through voluntary post-practice shooting. "It's doing well," Durant said of his ankle. "I feel good. I was able to run on it today, and I think I'll be ready by tonight." Thunder coach P.J. Carlesimo said Durant will be in the starting lineup if he's able to play tonight and added he would not drastically cut his minutes ..."

Durant to return Friday?

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November 13

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant's plan was to watch practice Tuesday and play against the Magic. Instead, he decided two more days rest would allow him to play this weekend in New York and Philadelphia. "Most definitely," Durant said. "Another day's rest should definitely get me back for the next game."Durant suffered a sprained ankle Monday, landing on a player's foot while grabbing a rebound in the second quarter of a loss at Indiana. He played through the injury to score a season-high 37 points."I played off adrenaline," Durant said. "But once I sat on the bench and got in the locker room, it would be kind of stiff when I got back up." NEW LOOK Center Robert Swift cut his hair Tuesday. The Thunder's ..."

Durant looking for home court shooting touch

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November 9

The Oklahoman

"The player affectionately nicknamed "K-Smoove" has been anything but smooth inside the Ford Center. But Kevin Durant is looking to change that tonight when he and his Thunder teammates host the Atlanta Hawks at 6.Durant has played much better on the road this season than inside his own arena, shooting 36 percent at the Ford Center and 57.1 percent in opponents' buildings. But the second-year guard thinks it's only a matter of time before he shows his home fans the talents and versatility he's displayed on the road. "I've been getting good shots," Durant said of his Ford Center performances. "Some have been in and out and some have missed bad. But I work hard every day after practice and ..."

Durant leaves practice

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October 22

The Oklahoman

"Kevin Durant left practice with a sprained ankle Tuesday, but it's not believed to be serious. Forward Chris Wilcox suffered a strained hamstring. Forward Joe Smith (fractured nose), waiting for a fitted mask, did not practice. On the positive side, forward Nick Collison (two sprained ankles) returned to practice. Rookie guard Kyle Weaver (hamstring) practiced live for 45 minutes for the first time in two weeks."There was some good news," said coach P.J. Carlesimo. "It was a good day for Nick health-wise. He got through practice in pretty good shape. Jeff (Green), who has a slight ankle sprain, also got through it which was good. Robert (Swift) got through a bigger portion, but not the ..."