Kevin Durant Named League’s Top Rookie

It is just a popularity contest isn’t it?

In a move that shocked nobody, but maybe left some people scratching their heads, Kevin Durant was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year on Thursday.

Sure, Durant shined in his first year in Seattle, and it’s obvious that he will develop into a bonafide stud in years to come – but the league’s top rookie? He may have gotten more endorsements, sold more jerseys, and gotten more time on SportsCenter than any other rookie, but that’s because he was in the position to do more.

Winning the award was more of Durant being a product of circumstance than his actual performance. Being the main threat in Seattle, he saw more looks and had more opportunities than any other rookie. In fact, he took nearly 500 more shots than Al Thornton, who took the second most shots among all rookies. Additionally, Durant and Al Horford were the only rookies that averaged over 30 minutes a game.

He was the go-to option in Seattle, something no other rookie can say, and despite scoring 20.3 points a contest, he left something to be desired with his shooting percentages. Of the 27 players that averaged over 20 points a game during the regular season, only Stephen Jackson, Jamal Crawford, Tracy McGrady and Baron Davis had a lower shooting percentage. Durant shot 43 percent from the field and only 29 percent from behind the arc.

Durant could improve his rebounding as well. The Texas product averaged only 4.4 boards a game from the small forward position. He also averaged more turnovers (2.9) than assists (2.4), and his turnovers were most among all rookies.

With that said, I am surprised Durant was such a runaway winner of this award. I would have been very tempted to look at other candidates. Horford, who finished second in the voting and received 30 first place votes, is the next best option.

The Florida product averaged nearly a double-double for the Hawks with 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He shot nearly 50 percent, and gave the Hawks a legitimate big body to patrol the paint. Another big difference between Horford and Durant is that Horford is still playing (for now at least), and Horford’s inside presence is a big reason why Atlanta made the playoffs.

After those two, however, there were no real contenders for the award. It takes years to really analyze a draft class, so I’ll withhold some judgment, but as of now this rookie class seems lackluster. Nobody made a big splash like Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony have in recent years. This class seems to be riddled with role players, but guys like Jeff Green, Thornton, Luis Scola, Mike Conley, Jamario Moon and Juan Carlos Navarro seem poised to break out next year. Not to mention that this class’ number one pick Greg Oden will take the floor for the first time next season.

The jury is still out on this class as a whole, but as of now, Durant is the headliner.

Playoff Talk

It’s crunch time now in the NBA playoffs, and there are three teams facing elimination tonight. The Hawks, Wizards and Rockets could all be sent packing tonight if they don’t deliver a victory.

Atlanta is down 3-2 and playing at home. Winning two games in this series is accomplishment enough, but the Hawks have played good basketball on their home court, and have a chance to send the East’s top seed to a game seven – something nobody saw coming.

Washington is down 3-2 after winning a close game five in Cleveland. The Wizards now play at home where they went 25-16 on the season. Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and company want to extend the series to a game seven, but nobody would be happier than LeBron James, who has been physically beat up this series, to end the series tonight.

In the West, the Rockets face elimination, also down 3-2. Utah will attempt to clinch the series at home where they have dominated all year, going 37-4 in the regular season. Winning in Utah will be a tall task for the Rockets but Tracy McGrady, who is averaging 24.4 points a game in the postseason, may be up to the task.

It’s a great night for basketball, so enjoy.

Coaching Carousel

From teams possibly making an exit, to coaches already out the door. After embarrassing first round exits, both Avery Johnson and Mike D’Antoni are looking for jobs.

Johnson and the Mavs were dismantled by the Hornets in five games. It’s the second straight year Dallas was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. On full display this series was the Jason Kidd trade. Chris Paul dominated while playing like the Jason Kidd of old, while Kidd just looked plain old.

In 2006, Johnson was named NBA Coach of the Year and took the Mavs to the finals, so he will likely land a job this offseason.

D’Antoni and the Suns were ousted by the Spurs in five games. A series against a team like the Spurs is the precise reason why the Suns traded for Shaq, but once again the trade didn’t quite work out. Shaq was solid in the series, however, averaging 15.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks, but it wasn’t enough.

D’Antoni will also likely find a job, but the Suns will look for someone better suited to coach a team with someone like Shaq on the roster.

Anthony Oliva III is a senior journalism student at Penn State University. He can be contacted at anthony.oliva3[at]gmail.com.