ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Kevin Durant cringes a little
whenever he hears his name next to words like elite or
superstar.
But after winning his first All-Star MVP
award with a scoring display that ranked among the best in the game's
history, even Durant might have to acknowledge his own NBA
stardom.
The Oklahoma City Thunder forward scored 36
points and grabbed seven rebounds Sunday night to help the West hold off
a late charge from the East in a 152-149
victory.
"It's just exciting to be named (an)
All-Star, but to step it up another level and become MVP, it's only
something as a kid you dream about," Durant said. "Coming from where I
come from, I didn't think I would be here. Everything is just a blessing
to me."
His performance was a small piece of
All-Star redemption for Durant after he came up just short against
Minnesota's Kevin Love in Saturday night's 3-point
Shootout.
Durant dazzled with a scoring barrage that
included jump shots, slashing layups and dunks to help the West open a
21-point lead. He even eclipsed West teammate Kobe Bryant, who scored 27
points and passed Michael Jordan to become the top career scorer in
All-Star game history.
Durant said there was no
special method to how he approached the game, but said he and West coach
Scott Brooks did have a discussion back in Oklahoma City in which
Durant let him know he didn't mind logging a high number of All-Star
minutes.
Durant finished the night playing a
game-high 37.
"I'm always like that," Durant said.
"You know, every game I play in I try to be aggressive and be myself. It
made it easier having my coaches over there, as well. ... People just
sacrificed shots, and that's what you like to see from
superstars."
Miami's Dwyane Wade said Durant will be a
player to watch in future games.
"That record (Kobe)
got, with KD in the league, I don't know how long it's going to last,"
Wade said.
Brooks said he's never amazed by the
fifth-year player anymore.
"This is his first time of
probably many," Brooks said of the MVP award. "I'm thrilled to have the
opportunity to coach him. The guy, he does a lot of things well. ... He
just comes in and does his work."
Durant said
Sunday's honor ranks high on his list of career achievements, including
the gold medal he won at the world championships in
2010.
"It ranks right up there at the top," Durant
said. "I keep saying it, but I'm excited I got it, and I'm glad I get to
celebrate this with my family and my teammates and everybody in
Oklahoma City. We'll see if I get another one down the line."
