Kevin Durant Might Be Seattle's Last Rookie of the Year

In news that should shock approximately no one, Kevin Durant will win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, the Seattle Times reported early Wednesday.

Durant averaged 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists this season with the Sonics, in what may end up being their last in Seattle. Some argued that Atlanta Hawks rookie Al Horford was more deserving, considering his better overall stat line and the fact that the Atlanta Hawks are, you know, still playing basketball and didn't suffer another completely abysmal season. Still others questioned Durant's legitimacy based on his poor shooting percentage, but a late surge helped to quell that tide.

Durant is certainly going to be a dynamic offensive staple for this team, wherever it goes, and whatever it's called. However, to see such a phenomenal talent on a team wrapped in such bitter affairs only seems to make it that much more tragic.

The award is little more than a formality, and has been since Portland Trailblazers' rookie Greg Oden went down with knee surgery before the start of the season. And while there have been other rookies that made an impact for their team, Rockets' forward Luis Scola being one, Durant was simply too much of an offensive focal point to be denied.

Durant will accept the award later today at a team function in downtown Seattle. Where I come from, we call that "rubbing it in."