Durant's NBA star ready to start rise

Hardly anyone recognizes him, which is just how Kevin Durant likes it. The Sonics rookie completed the cross-country move from his hometown Washington, D.C., to Seattle more than a week ago, and the 6-foot-9 swingman is still able to walk around town without drawing a crowd.

Rarely is he recognized, and only a few people have asked autographs.

"I'm just a normal guy here," he said. "And I love that."

But all of that is about to change.

While chairman Clay Bennett prepares for a court battle with city officials over the KeyArena lease, the Sonics begin preparation for their 41st NBA season with the start of training camp Tuesday. And Durant figures prominently in the renovation of a team that underwent major changes to the roster, coaching staff and front office.

The expectations for Seattle, which finished with a 31-51 record last season, are relatively low. But Durant, the No. 2 overall draft pick, is the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.

"I don't think I'm a lock at all for Rookie of the Year," Durant said. "There's a lot of great rookies that came out this year. I'm far from a lock. When they say that type of stuff, I just try to push it to the side. You're going to hear it. That's a part of this business, but I just try to push it to the side and work hard and be a team player. I think that's what my game is, helping the team out as much as I can."

Durant's chances improved after Portland center Greg Oden, the No. 1 pick, underwent season-ending microfracture knee surgery two weeks ago. Oden's injury put the brakes on what was being billed as Magic Johnson-Larry Bird type of rivalry between this year's top two draft picks.

"I was shocked when I heard that," Durant said of Oden's injury. "I didn't think it was true. I thought it was a rumor. I prayed for him. I know next year he's going to come back even stronger and even better."

Durant may not be a lock for Rookie of the Year, but no other rookie has garnered as many endorsements as the soft-spoken teenager with a disarming smile.

On Thursday, he agreed to a multiyear deal with Gatorade, adding the sports drink company to a list of endorsement deals that include Nike, Upper Deck and EA Sports. Durant is the first NBA rookie to sign with Gatorade and just the third active NBA player — Kevin Garnett and Dwyane Wade are the others — promoting the product.

"Our decision was influenced by the class and character that Kevin demonstrates as much as his ability on the court," said Scott Paddock, Gatorade director of sports marketing. "He's a special kid."

To listen to Durant, all he wants is to be "just a normal guy," but then normal guys aren't featured in a photo spread in the November issue of GQ magazine or pose for the cover of American Airlines' in-flight magazine alongside Storm guard Sue Bird.

And normal guys don't throw the first pitch in Saturday's Mariners game, which is how Durant plans to celebrate his 19th birthday.

Admittedly, he's nervous about bouncing the ball to home plate and embarrassing himself.

"That's going to be in my thoughts for about two days," he said. "I played baseball before, but that's a long ways [to throw]."

Westhead signs on

The Sonics added Paul Westhead, 68, as an assistant coach. Considered an offensive genius, Westhead is the only coach to win titles in the WNBA and NBA after leading the WNBA Phoenix Mercury to a championship this year and guiding the Los Angeles Lakers to a title in 1980.

Notes

• Seattle native Doug Christie participated in pickup games with several Sonics at the team's training facility this week. Guard Jermaine Jackson also played with the team, and both could be added to Seattle's training-camp roster. The team has 14 players under contract.

• At the Sonics' request, a different judge is being assigned to oversee the lawsuit the city filed against the team this week. King County Superior Court Judge Glenna Hall was initially assigned to the case, in which the city is trying to keep the Sonics in KeyArena through the end of their lease in 2010.

AP contributed to this report.

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com