COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (AP) - Kevin Durant has been chosen USA Basketball male athlete of the year after leading the U.S. to its first world championship in 16 years.
Durant was the tournament MVP after averaging 22.8 points, a U.S. record in the event, while shooting nearly 56 percent from the field and 45 percent from the 3-point line.
With the stars from the 2008 Olympic team staying home, Durant carried the young American team and is a lock to play in the 2012 Olympics no matter who decides to return.
The NBA’s leading scorer with Oklahoma City, Durant was at his best in the medal rounds. He scored 33 points in the quarterfinals against Russia, 38 in the semifinals against Lithuania, and had 20 of his 28 in the first half of the gold-medal game against Turkey.
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