USA – Durant named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the year

COLORADO SPRINGS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Kevin Durant on Wednesday was named USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year after leading the USA to the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Durant averaged a team-best 22.8 points per game in helping Mike Krzyzewski’s team to a perfect 9-0 record as the Americans ending a 16-year drought to reclaim the title of world champions.

The Oklahoma City Thunder forward was the unanimous MVP and headlined the All-Tournament Team. He shot 55.6 percent shooting from the field (including 44.6 percent from three-point range) and 91.2 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributed 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.2 minutes per game.

“It means a lot,” Durant said after hearing he had won the award. “My goal was to represent my country to the best of my ability. I really appreciate all the coaches and players that I got to share that experience with. I am very humbled by this honour.”

Coach Krzyzewski found Durant to be fully deserving of the award.

“Kevin brought maturity and a winning mindset to every practice and every game last summer,” he said. “He was a critical part of our success, and his team-mates wanted him to have the ball in critical situations. They knew he'd deliver, and he did repeatedly. He's a very special player and deserving of any honours he receives.”

USA Basketball Executive Director and CEO Jim Tooley seconded Krzyzewski’s glowing endorsement of the 22-year-old superstar.

“Kevin's performance during the FIBA World Championship was incredible," he said. “He set several US World Championship records, and was an integral part of our young team. USA Basketball is proud of Kevin and the entire team's effort.”

Durant saved some of his best for last, going for 38 points in the USA’s Semi-Final win over Lithuania, to set a new American single-game scoring record in the FIBA World Championship.

He then tied the record for most three-pointers in a FIBA World Championship game – set by Puerto Rico’s Larry Ayuso – by knocking down seven in the Final, to power the Americans past hosts Turkey.

FIBA