OKLAHOMA CITY – with media reports stating that Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant is set to be named NBA MVP, the former Texas Longhorn earned his first NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Durant, who averaged 32 points, 7.4 assists and 5.5 assists during the 2013-14 season, becomes the first player since Allen Iverson in 2000-01 of the Philadelphia 76ers to win both the scoring title and MVP in the same season.
After being dubbed “Mr. Unreliable” following a Game 5 100-99 first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies by The Daily Oklahoman, Durant would go on to average 34.5 points in Game 6 and 7 enabling the Thunder to rally from a 3-2 hole to win 4-3 and face the high-flying Los Angeles Clippers.
For the seven-game series, Durant averaged 29.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 44 percent from the field and 32 percent from three-point range.
What makes Durant’s remarkable MVP season even more impressive is that he scored 25-plus points 70 times during the regular season out in 81 games played, and only nine times did he fail to not score 25 or more—with one game missed due to injury.
Not only is Durant’s first MVP award well-deserved, but also validates his status as not only LeBron James‘ one true rival, but the most prolific scorer today. And contrary to perhaps the most irresponsible sports headline in recent sports history featured in The Daily Oklahoman, is far from unreliable.
Robert D. Cobb Is the CEO/Founder/Senior Editor-In-Chief of the InscriberMag : Digital Magazine and a member of the PFWA(Pro Football Writers Association), please follow him on Twitter at @RC_TheInscriberMag