Professional career
Seattle SuperSonics
Durant was selected second overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. On October 31 of the following season, he made his professional debut with an 18 point, 5 rebound, and 3 steal performance. On November 16, he made the first game-winning shot of his career in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. At the conclusion of the season, he was named the Rookie of the Year with averages of 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1 steal per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Breakthrough
Following Durant's debut season, the SuperSonics relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City, becoming the Thunder and switching to new colors blue, orange, and yellow. At the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend, Durant set a Rookie Challenge record with 46 points and was named MVP of the event. By the conclusion of the year, he had raised his scoring average by five points from the prior season to 25.3 points per game,
In the 2009–10 season, Durant was selected to his first All-Star Game. In his playoff debut, he scored 24 points in a Game 1 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Oklahoma City would go on to lose the series to the eventual NBA champions in six games. Durant averaged 30.1 points per game on the season and became the youngest-ever NBA scoring champion. As a result, he was selected to his first All-NBA team.
Deep playoff runs
Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, Durant announced via Twitter that he had signed a five year contract extension with the Thunder worth approximately $86 million. For the second consecutive year, he led the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.7 points a game. Behind his leadership, the Thunder won 55 games and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, Oklahoma City defeated the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies en route to a Conference Finals match-up versus the Dallas Mavericks, losing in five games to the eventual NBA champions.
On February 19 of the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, Durant recorded his first career 50 point game, scoring 51 points against the Denver Nuggets.
Seattle SuperSonics
Durant was selected second overall in the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. On October 31 of the following season, he made his professional debut with an 18 point, 5 rebound, and 3 steal performance. On November 16, he made the first game-winning shot of his career in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. At the conclusion of the season, he was named the Rookie of the Year with averages of 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1 steal per game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Breakthrough
Following Durant's debut season, the SuperSonics relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City, becoming the Thunder and switching to new colors blue, orange, and yellow. At the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend, Durant set a Rookie Challenge record with 46 points and was named MVP of the event. By the conclusion of the year, he had raised his scoring average by five points from the prior season to 25.3 points per game,
In the 2009–10 season, Durant was selected to his first All-Star Game. In his playoff debut, he scored 24 points in a Game 1 loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Oklahoma City would go on to lose the series to the eventual NBA champions in six games. Durant averaged 30.1 points per game on the season and became the youngest-ever NBA scoring champion. As a result, he was selected to his first All-NBA team.
Deep playoff runs
Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, Durant announced via Twitter that he had signed a five year contract extension with the Thunder worth approximately $86 million. For the second consecutive year, he led the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.7 points a game. Behind his leadership, the Thunder won 55 games and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, Oklahoma City defeated the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies en route to a Conference Finals match-up versus the Dallas Mavericks, losing in five games to the eventual NBA champions.
On February 19 of the lockout-shortened 2011–12 season, Durant recorded his first career 50 point game, scoring 51 points against the Denver Nuggets.