Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant named Player of the Month

If there is anything in the NBA less surprising than Miami Heat forward LeBron James winning the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Month Award, it is Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant winning the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Year Award.

On Friday, Durant won the award.

"Durant guided the Thunder to a 14-3 (.824) record including an 8-1 road mark, both NBA bests. Durant ranked second in the league in scoring at 29.4 ppg to go along with 9.0 rpg and 4.5 apg. He shot .535 from the field including .481 from beyond the arc, and .880 from the free throw line. Durant netted 20-plus points 15 times, including 10 games with at least 30 points. Durant began the month with a triple-double, recording 32 points, a career-high 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 113-103 win over Minnesota Dec. 1."

On the season, Durant is now averaging 28.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The NBA pointed out that “other nominees for Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month were Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Indiana’s Paul George and Lance Stephenson, the L.A. Clippers’ Blake Griffin and Chris Paul, Minnesota’s Kevin Love, Orlando’s Arron Afflalo, Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge, and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry”