The path of #35

Look at this bastard, Chase ruining my picture

Jay Bilas described Durant as a hard working player, complete with size, and incredible skills in shooting, ball handling, defense, and even some post up moves. Durant also was named a McDonald's All American and named co-MVP of the 2006 McDonald's All American game along with Chase Budinger. Behind Greg Oden, Durant was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect. The question always was Oden, Durant and a few people hyped up the prospect Thadeus Young but the injuries took him out of the conversation. Heading to Texas Durant was coming in with so much hype, was it even possible to match those expectations?


Durant was one of four freshman starters for the University of Texas basketball team.

With all the hype heading to Texas, it was going to take a special player to lead this group anywhere since they were so young. A 6'9" swingman with a 7'5" wingspan lanky player took to the court and let his game do the speaking. Fast forward the college basketball season and this is what he produced. He averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the Texas Longhorns. In Big 12 games he averaged 28.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. Durant was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year and received the Oscar Robertson Trophy, and the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy, becoming the first freshman to win each of these awards.


the University of Texas announced the retirement of Durant's #35 jersey. The number will now hang in the rafters at the Frank Erwin Center along with the #11 of former Longhorn great T. J. Ford.

Heading into the draft, the lottery would determine the selection that Durant would go. The aged old question still remained, Oden or Durant. Greg Oden was coming off an impressive season in which he played with a sprained wrist, he basically played basketball with his opposite hand and still dominated. Durant was coming off a historic season that would set the bar for all freshmen in coming years. OJ Mayo has already credited Kevin for setting the bar so high, stating that he is going to match Durant's individual accolades as well as win the championship while getting paid.


Whose it gonna be?

The night before the draft both Greg Oden and Kevin Durant joined together in a benefit to raise money to pay OJ Mayo's salary next year at USC. Comedians and entertainers both cracked jokes about who will be number one and number two, a large portion of the jokes had to do with piss and shit. At the end of the night both Greg and Kevin were all smiles, however the rivarly that will be formed the next night is something that will remain forever. Durant compares it to the draft in which Joe Johnson went number one over ahead of Pau Gasol, history now allows us to see that Johnson was the correct pick. Durant got in a few backhand compliments at Greg, however Greg finally won the battle threatening to smack him with his third leg.


Oh yeah, Draft Night.

With the first overall pick in the 2007 SSBL Draft the Utah Jazz select Kevin Durant.
Oh yeah, What's good Greg?

The journey begins here... In Utah. Utah might not be the most appealing place to live for a basketball player, however if you look at the young talent that the Jazz now have they will be scary good. Between Noah, Aldridge, Wagner and Foye adding Durant to the mix will certainly bring back the days of Stockton and Malone.