The Oklahoma City Thunder will be enter the second round of the NBA playoffs this week with Kevin Durant soon to be named this season’s NBA MVP. Oklahoma City was tested in the first round being taken to seven games by the Memphis Grizzlies, but Durant and company prevailed and now will face the Los Angeles Clippers.
Unlike the past few years, the race for the MVP award wasn’t close with Durant rising above the competition. Although the official announcement hasn’t been made by the NBA, reports have leaked that he’ll be named this year’s most valuable player.
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The only true contender for the award along with Durant was LeBron James. After winning the regular season award four out of the last five years, LeBron has dominated the competition with Durant right behind him.
LeBron said the following about Durant being on the verge of winning his first MVP award according to the Associated Press via ESPN:
“Much respect to him and he deserves it,” James said. “He had a big-time MVP season.”
LeBron would’ve won the award five years in a row if it weren’t for Derrick Rose’s breakout year during the 2011-12 NBA season. Although Durant has been worthy of the award over the past few years, LeBron’s emergence as arguably the best player in the league has overshadowed anything the Thunder superstar has been able to accomplish.
This season turned out to be the exception with Durant crushing the competition on a nightly basis. Along with winning his first MVP award, Durant led the league in scoring yet again at 32.4 points per game marking the fourth time Durant has won the scoring title.
Durant also led the Thunder to another Northwest division title this season while clinching the second overall seed in the Western Conference behind the San Antonio Spurs.
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