(Eds: Trims. With AP Photos.)
By CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant's unmatched scoring prowess has made him a strong contender for his first MVP award. It's everything else he is doing that might finally push him over the top.
Durant's new teammate, Caron Butler, has played with Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade. With all due respect to those stars, Butler said, Durant's approach to the game stands out.
"Probably one of the most unselfish superstars I've ever seen play the game," Butler said. "I haven't seen a guy like him who can score pretty much at will, but is such a willing passer and facilitator. That's the growth of his game."
Durant still scores more than anyone else -- he's averaging more than 32 points and is closing in on his fourth scoring title in five years. He has scored 25 or more points in 40 consecutive games, the most by anyone in the NBA since 1988-89 when Michael Jordan did it for a second time.
Durant has scored at a career-high pace while also reaching a career high in assists and taking on more overall responsibility. Teammates and opponents say he is making the extra pass, handling physical play better, moving better without the ball -- all with a fearless mentality that has helped his team stay at or near the top of the Western Conference standings all season.
"I've seen every type of defense," Durant said. "I've seen every type of defensive player, so nothing is new to me. You can be physical with me, foul me. You can push me out. You can do whatever. I'm still going to play my game."
Durant's heightened awareness as a leader means setting the tone during practice and being vocal in the huddle during timeouts.
"I think we're seeing a natural progression with him," Thunder forward Nick Collison said. "He's more mature. He's more comfortable with himself and has a better understanding of the game. And now, he's not just thinking about how he's playing, he's thinking about how the team's playing: What can he do to help other guys?"
Durant took on more of the scoring load while point guard Russell Westbrook was out after knee surgery, and coach Scott Brooks asked Durant to handle the ball more. He flourished in the role and his court vision improved. While Westbrook was out, Durant averaged 35 points and 6.3 assists while shooting 53 percent from the field as the Thunder went 19-7.
"I think they've grown as a result of that," Utah coach Tyrone Corbin said. "As Westbrook comes back, he (Durant) can step back, or they know that he can step up and do more, and Westbrook can play off the ball some now. He just does whatever it takes for his team to have a chance. The way this team has grown together -- it's fun to watch."
Durant has long been known as one of the league's nice guys. He donated $1 million to the Red Cross after tornadoes in Oklahoma last year, and he recently lent his voice to Strong and Kind, an organization that creates programming to teach youths that kindness is a strength, not a weakness. Durant's calm demeanor matches those actions, but beneath the laid-back surface is an intense man.
"He has a real quiet confidence about him and a quiet competitiveness about him, but he is as competitive as I've ever been around anybody," Brooks said. "I get to see him every day in practice. I get to see him every drill that we put the group through, and he wants to win everything."
Sometimes, that fire burns out of control. As of Thursday night, Durant had drawn 14 technical fouls -- a career high, and two short of a suspension. He had just 12 the first five years of his career, then 12 last season. Most of them have been a result of conversations with officials.
"Sometimes, to be honest, this year, I wanted a tech to inspire my team to do something," Durant said. "I wanted a tech to psych myself up and make myself feel stronger and better than what I was doing and to pump me up a little bit."
Brooks has talked to Durant about toning it down, and Durant concedes that nearing a suspension is taking things too far. He now ranks with the likes of lightning rods DeMarcus Cousins and Lance Stephenson. As of Thursday night, only Cousins had more technicals, with 15.
"I've got to be better and smarter with how I approach the refs, how I approach other teams," Durant said.
The Thunder have been willing to forgive Durant's occasional outbursts because of his overall play and the fact that he works so hard at his game. To his teammates, the big numbers have been nice, but the consistency is what has left them shaking their heads.
"What he does is tough to do," Collison said. "I think we take it for granted. To be able to stay on for long periods of time -- have to cut hard, catch the ball in the right spot and defend on the other end -- is tough to do. To be able to show that shows that he has an edge to him. He doesn't take a night off."
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