Kevin Durant will make his All-Star debut this Sunday. It figures to be one of about 12-14 All-Star games he will make in his up and coming career

He is still something of an unknown to the casual NBA fan. To the die hard fans of the No Brains Association, he is the next big thing. In the internet world, where everyone seemingly has a voice, it’s hard not to know who Kevin Durant is. The fact that he plays in Oklahoma City for the former SuperSonics doesn’t help his mainstream cause. Oklahoma City doesn’t get the national recognition of the bigger markets like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Most people will be like “The Oklahoma City who?!” The Thunder are the NBA’s version of Mike Tyson’s Balivion. That is changing by the game, however, and it’s due mainly by the emergence of a 22 year old superstar who is taking the league by storm. I knew he would be sensational from the 1st time I watched him at Texas. In a league where everyone bows to the feet of MeBron James, Durant is quietly becoming the Bird to James’ Magic for the next decade plus. His unofficial coming-out party, for those who have been living under a rock, will be this Sunday night at the 59th NBA All-Star game in Jerry Jones’ palace. Kevin Durant is unlike any player to come out college in the last 20 years, and is entering the must-watch world of James, Bryant, Rose, Carmelo, and Wade. In my dream world, I get to run an NBA team. The Bulls would be my preference, for obvious reasons, (hometown team, big fan, big market, etc.) and if I had my choice of one player to start a franchise, I’m taking Durant 12 times out of 10. That’s right, I just went there. Over MeBron James, you’re saying?! Yes, and here’s why. Durant is a prototype player who has the handle of a point guard, the first step of an All-Star 2-guard, is the 2nd best athlete at the small forward position, and has the wingspan of Manute Bol. Once Durant further builds up his body and develops a go-to move or two in the post, it’s a wrap. To quote the great Hubie Brown….”He’s virtually impossible to guard.”

Side Note: Remember at last year’s All-Star Saturday night dunk contest  LeBron announced that he was entering the 2010 dunk competition? You know, he took the mic, made a scene, tried to make it all about him, all while trying to imitate Kanye West with that horrendous outfit. I called it then, and it’s come true. LeBron isn’t participating……shocker. There are two reasons for this. One, he never wanted to, but had to make last year’s contest all about him, because that’s what he does. Two, he knows deep down that he couldn’t beat Shannon Brown in a dunk contest if Brown had to dunk one handed and had a sprained ankle. It’s unfortunate that the “Global Icon” doesn’t possess Durant’s unique ability of keeping a low profile and letting his game do his talking. That’s beneath “The King”.

How's that Greg Oden over Kevin Durant pick looking now? That is this generations Bowie over Jordan.

What stands out about Durant is his humility. Much like I laud the Bulls’ Derrick Rose for his humble nature, Durant is a quiet assassin. He isn’t concerned with being a “Global Icon”, he is on a pure basketball mission with a Kobe and Rose- like work ethic. He wants to win….plain and simple. He’s also one of the best teammates in the NBA. Last summer, Durant was at the summer league cheering on his teammates when that was the last place most fans would think he would be. Thunder GM Sam Presti has done a brilliant job of surrounding Durant with young, athletic, talented teammates. Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are guys Durant can grow old with in the OKC. That has been the flaw of how Danny Ferry has built LeBron’s cast. Ferry has never surrounded James with the young talent that  he can play with for eight to ten years. That is reason 429 why LeBron may ditch Cleveland and go to another team (Did you hear he loves News York? Excuse me while I throw up on myself). Another reason why I don’t care for MeBron is how he has strung along the Cavs organization regarding his future. He has secretly hoped the bumbling Knicks would build a quality roster so he could flee dumpy Cleveland and make the big move to New York. Maybe that was the motivation for Durant– to be around his boys just hanging out with them. He is just a genuine guy who loves the game. There is a camaraderie with the young core of the Thunder that is leading them to big things in the future. Name me another top 5 player who would spend part of his summer watching guys he won’t even play with? Go ahead and name one, I dare you. Can’t do it can you? LeBron is a good teammate, Rose has become the voice and leader of the Bulls, Kobe has become MUCH better with his guys, but Durant at 22 is the unquestioned face of the Thunder franchise who doesn’t act or carry himself like a superstar diva. Durant may not be LeBron’s physical equal, but there isn’t another player like him in the association. He and the Thunder are my go to NBA watch when the Roses aren’t playing. That and NBATV Fan Night just to see Chris Webber clown around as if he spent the pre-show meeting with Rasheed Wallace.

The run that Durant has been on in the past the several weeks has been eye opening. He currently has a streak of 25- plus points in 25 straight games. He has scored 30 plus points in 30 games so far this season. He is on a ’86-’87 Jordan type breakout. He is averaging 29 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds on the season, and the the thought of him averaging 35, 10, and 8 is absolutely possible in the next season or two. With Kobe taking less of a scoring load with the loaded Lakers, Durant is becoming the best scorer in the league. 30 a night like clockwork. He makes 88% of his free throws, 48% from the field, and 38% of his 3′s. He might have the quickest release on his jumper in the league with the exception of Stephen Curry. The game comes so easy for him that he’s on that level where he does something every game that you haven’t seen him do before. To lead the league in scoring at 22 would be a phenomenal accomplishment, and may start him on a streak of scoring titles that Jordan had from the ’86-’87 season through the ’93 season. The closest comparison to Durant I can come up with would be “The Iceman” Geogre Gervin in his length, athleticism, and scoring ability. The scary thing is, I think Durant is better than man who could finger roll.

Durant could easily average 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists a game. He might just lead the league in scoring for the next decade. Did I forget to mention he's already passed the 5,000 point mark?!

Team USA Basketball released the names of 27 players who will represent Team USA in the next 2 years leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and to nobody’s surprise Durant is on the list. Durant will be on the next Olympic team, and probably be the team’s best player. His game just isn’t perfect for the NBA, it’s ideal for international play. How good can Durant be? I have no idea, and that’s the beauty of his game. He doesn’t have a ceiling or a limit physically. Mentally, he is a strong minded kid who has one goal on his mind and that’s to be the best basketball player his ability will allow. We may not see a player of his caliber, humility, and Jordan like scoring ability come along again for a very long time, and, yes, that includes the “Chosen One”. He is going to be the best player in the NBA for the next decade, and why The De Facto NBA GM would take Mr. Durant to start a franchise 12 times out of 10…..like clockwork.