Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant - The possible NBA MVP for 2011 (Part 1)
To become the 'Most Valuable Player' in the National Basketball Association- commonly known as NBA- requires a long and consistent season of scoring and being right up there with regards to all individual statistics.
Kevin Durant, only 22 years old, was born in Washington D.C. and is quickly making a name for himself in Professional Basketball. So far this year, he has had a spectacular season. Durant is fast becoming one of the most feared and skilled players in the
world. The youngster recently exhibited his sublime technique and potential at the 2010 FIBA World Championships.
It is an international basketball competition. A number of years ago it was referred to as the French International Basketball for Amateurs but later on, it was mutually decided to remove the Amateur part from the French acronym. So in English, FIBA means
International Basketball Federation where professionals from different countries compete.
The last time this prestigious tournament was held was in 2006 while this year, the mega event started on 28th of August and went on till 12th of September, 2010. A total of twenty two countries participated in what was the biggest
international basketball event next to the World Olympics.
This year, the lucky hosts were Turkey. The preliminary stages of the championship were played in separate cities. Kevin Durant was representing USA for the first time in an event that was on an international level. However, the swift kid showed no signs
of nerves.
He helped United States win their first two encounters against Croatia and Slovenia, respectively. In the first match, Durant impressed by having the highest number of rebounds while in the following game, once again he helped USA on its way ahead by leading
with the highest number of assists. Durant had made his country’s team take off in the championship.
It must not be forgotten that he was playing together with the outstanding and world renowned, Kobe Bryant and other giant players like Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. However, the kid belonging to the Oklahoma Thunders did not seem under any pressure. He
just played his natural game.
In the group stages, he continued to be part of the statistical leaders for Team USA. The Oklahoma kid is natural when it comes to scoring points and is truly like lightening in collecting rebounds. But despite all the publicity and quick fame he began to
gain, the good boy remained humble and just focused on how to get better at what he does and his starving to succeed.
At the moment, the boy from D.C is being compared to basketball greats such as Lebron James, Scotty Pippen and others, who are or were international icons.
As the championship went on, the Washington Express went faster and faster in climbing the statistical ladder. His individual brilliance was not only benefiting his personal stats but also USA’s statistics which seemed magnificent by the time the knockout
stages begun.
In the round of 16, USA completely outclassed Angola by defeating them via a crushing margin of 56 points. Again Durant was the leader in the number of steals as well as the assists. He had guided his country to the Quarter Finals where they would take on
Russia.
With the kind of form the States were in, and the superb form the exceptional Kevin was in, the result was almost predictable. However, it ended up being a real tight and close game with United States stealing the victory by 10 points while avoiding an upset
at the hands of Russia.
USA played Lithuania in the Semi’s on 11th September 2010. It was another close game as Lithuania showed a lot of spirit but in the end, they just couldn't hold down Durant and Bryant, who both turned the magic on together. USA went on to win
the game by 15 points. They had galloped into the final of the International Basketball Championships without being defeated even in a single game.
On 12th September 2010, Turkey- the host nation- who had also reached the final, was all set to take on the absolutely unrivalled, United States. Turkey managed to show some resilience in the first couple of quarters. But it was by the third quarter
that USA’s extreme offensive play and Durant’s speed and dribbling skills ripped through the Turkish defences only to score some classic points to win in a classic manner.
At the end, the offensive play by Team USA proved too much for the host nation to handle, they convincingly won the championship by 17 points.
When the total statistical highs for each team in the tournament were calculated, they were mainly topped by the Champion team. That was pretty much predictable. However, when the individual games and individual tournament highs were calculated, Kevin Durant-
the maestro- had some amazing achievements.
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