Originally published Friday, April 18, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Seattle saw Sonics rookie Kevin Durant bloom
He's already gone. One of the most magical rookies to ever step foot in Seattle has already caught a plane to his hometown of Washington...
Seattle Times staff reporter
He's already gone.
One of the most magical rookies to ever step foot in Seattle has already caught a plane to his hometown of Washington, D.C., to begin an offseason of schoolwork and working out. Whether Seattle sees Kevin Durant again depends on the results of numerous court dates ahead.
The rookie's first-season display can be likened to that of the Mariners' Ichiro in his impressive first season in this town. But if Sonics owner Clay Bennett's bid to move the team succeeds, fans will miss the opportunity to see the growth of one of the franchise's brightest talents develop in Seattle, as did Spencer Haywood, Fred Brown, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and even Rashard Lewis.
Durant, the 19-year-old selected No. 2 overall from Texas, finished as the leading scorer for a first-year Sonics player, averaging 20.3 points and 4.4 rebounds. His scoring average is better than that of eight of the past 10 rookies of the year. And only All-Stars Carmelo Anthony (21.0), LeBron James (20.9), and Elton Brand (20.1) have averaged 20 points or more since 2000.
On Thursday, Durant won his fifth rookie of the month honor and is the favorite for rookie of the year. He cast the final vote himself with a season-high 42 points and 13 rebounds in a 126-121 win at Golden State.
"He's been really good all year," said fifth-year Sonics forward Nick Collison, "and especially the last few months, he's become a lot more efficient and his shooting percentage has become much higher. He's had a big role on his shoulders. For a rookie to step in and be asked to carry the scoring load and be the face of the franchise, he's just been great."
Even Durant will admit he started the season wild. Since the draft, he was told to remain aggressive and continue to shoot. For Durant, any shot was a good shot. He kept his shooting percentage above 40 percent until he hit a lull in February (37.6).
But an NBA scout commented while watching Durant play in Utah in March that the rookie was learning to play within the Sonics system and passing more. Working with Brian Keefe, the Sonics' player development assistant, Durant's shooting percentage rose to 52.6 percent that month, even as he played against teams jockeying for playoff position.
"I learned a lot," Durant said of his first season. "Where to get shots from — and I've been working hard after practice all year, and it started to pay off. I started to get things, and I've just got to continue to work to become a better player."
By his side has been Jeff Green, the No. 5 overall draft pick. Green entered the starting lineup in December, when veteran Damien Wilkins struggled offensively, and has stepped up to average 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds the past 10 games.
"I just had to be patient. I knew my time was going to come, and it came faster than I thought and I was ready," said Green, who also returned to D.C. at season's end. "I'm going to work out with him [Durant] a couple of times just so that we can keep the chemistry going so when next year comes around, it won't take so long for us to get used to each other."
The Sonics have 11 players under contract and room under the salary cap to continue to build around Durant and Green. The team has two first-round picks, with a strong possibility for the No. 1 overall choice to select Derrick Rose of Memphis or Michael Beasley of Kansas State.
First-year general manager Sam Presti would not elaborate on needs for the roster or whether coach P.J. Carlesimo and his staff would be retained, however.
Notes
• Mouhamed Sene had surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee on Monday. During surgery, doctors discovered a chondral defect, which required microfracture surgery. Sene, a second-year center, will be on crutches for six weeks. Presti said Sene will miss training camp and most likely part of the upcoming season. • Sonics assistant general manager Scott Perry is set to take a job as Detroit's vice president of basketball operations.
Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com
| Where they stand | ||
| Pos. | Name | Statistics |
| F | Kevin Durant | (20.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) |
| Sonics future: The rookie is signed through 2010. The No. 2 overall draft pick and favorite for rookie of the year is the face of the franchise and will earn $4.4 million next year. | ||
| F | Jeff Green | (10.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Solidified his place as a cornerstone of the franchise by averaging 15.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in his final 10 games. He's under contract through 2010. | ||
| F | Nick Collison | (9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Collison is signed through the 2011 season with $19.1 million remaining on his contract. His locker-room leadership and work ethic should keep him on the roster. | ||
| F | Chris Wilcox | (13.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Signed through 2009, making $6.7 million next season. Wilcox is expected to be retained on the roster because of his rebounding ability and athleticism in the Sonics' desired up-tempo offense. | ||
| G | Earl Watson | (10.7 ppg, 6.8 apg) |
| Sonics future: Averaged a career-high 6.8 assists in first stint as full-time starter (73 games). Signed through 2010 with $13 million remaining on his contract and expected to battle again for the starting point-guard role next season. | ||
| G | Luke Ridnour | (6.4 ppg, 4.0 apg) |
| Sonics future: Injuries nearly decimated his season. Ridnour averaged his fewest minutes (20) since his rookie season. He's signed through 2010 with $13 million remaining on his contract and could be part of a trade package. | ||
| F-G | Damien Wilkins | (9.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Has the option to sign for $3.1 million next season, but probably won't be in a Sonics uniform. Wilkins was removed from starting lineup in December after averaging 7.4 points and 2.5 rebounds in 12 games as a starter. | ||
| C | Robert Swift | (1.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Season was ruined by multiple knee injuries. The restricted free agent could be offered his $3.5 million qualifying offer by the Sonics, but it doesn't seem likely. Because of injury, Swift has played in only 71 games since being drafted in the first round in 2004. | ||
| C | Johan Petro | (6.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Was last remaining healthy center and played well in spurts. But Petro frustrated coaching staff at times with quick fouls and his finesse game. He's signed through the 2009 season with $1.9 million remaining on contract. On the bubble to return. | ||
| C | Mouhamed Sene | (2.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Named co-defensive player of the year of the NBA Development League, but never appeared ready to play in the NBA. He's signed through the 2009 season and will be on the roster because his current knee injury will have him rehabilitating through training camp and it would be hard to trade him. | ||
| F-G | Mickael Gelabale | (4.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg) |
| Sonics future: The Sonics might trade Gelabale, a restricted free agent. The Sonics had a logjam at his position, and he was unable to convert to a backup point guard. But the Sonics like his athleticism. | ||
| F | Donyell Marshall | (3.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Signed through 2009 with $5.9 million remaining on his contract. He was acquired via trade from Cleveland and appeared in 15 games, with a leadership role. Has a history with coach P.J. Carlesimo and is on the bubble to return. | ||
| C | Francisco Elson | (3.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg) |
| Sonics future: An unrestricted free agent, Elson had slimmer chances of returning when he spoke out against Carlesimo about being replaced in the starting lineup for the final week of the season. He was acquired via trade from San Antonio. | ||
| G | Adrian Griffin | (1.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Joined the team via trade from Chicago. Averaged 8.8 minutes in 32 games with the Sonics, starting two, but knows coaching staff well and is under contract for $1.7 million next season. He's on the bubble to return. | ||
| F | Ronald Dupree | (0.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg) |
| Sonics future: Originally signed to a 10-day contract to help the Sonics through multiple injuries. Remained through the end of the season and could be invited to participate on summer-league team. | ||
| Jayda Evans | ||
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
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