Sonics' Durant To Win Rookie Of The Year

Seattle SuperSonics guard Kevin Durant will be named NBA Rookie of the Year, the Seattle Times reported, citing two anonymous league sources.

Durant, who led all first-year players in scoring, assists and free-throw percentage, beat out Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford to become the first Rookie of the Year in Seattle franchise history, the newspaper reported. The NBA is expected to officially announce the award on Thursday.

Durant averaged 20.3 points per game in 2007-08 — the highest scoring average for a rookie since LeBron James averaged 20.9 points per game in 2003-04. Only three of the past 10 rookies of the year — Durant, James and Elton Brand — have averaged at least 20 points in their first season.

Durant became the favorite to win the award when No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden was forced to miss the entire season following microfracture knee surgery.

Horford averaged 10.1 points and 9.7 rebounds, helping the Hawks back to the NBA playoffs for the first time in nine years.

Credit: ESPN