12 Jan 11 Kevin Durant: What the Young All-Star Can Teach LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesI remember the first time I saw Kevin Durant play at the University of Texas.No one could forget such a stunning first impression. At 6'9,'' with a bothersome 7'5'' wingspan, he could do it all.He posted uptaller defenders, shot over the smaller ones, drove to the hoop for emphatic slams,threaded tightpasses,and even made his free throws at a respectable clip.Durant recorded one of the best freshman seasons in NCAA history.He averaged 26 points and 11 rebounds in 2006. He reached the 30-point mark 20 times and nabbed every major college basketball award and honor en route to leading the Longhorns into March Madness.His four 37-point outings looked effortless. Even in his few clunkers he managed to dazzle spectators.Durant's No. 35 now hangs in the Frank Erwin Center rafters.How many other athletes have been worthy of a jersey retirement after one season?Durant captivatedme throughout his freshman campaign. I am a life-long NBA junkie, and he mademe alsolove college hoops.Special talents can do that, and if he reaches his Washington Monument-high potential, the 's' word will not begin to describe his game.Not close.Thursday night, the Oklahoma City Thunderforwardadded another accolade to his burgeoning resume: NBA All-Star.Durant will join Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and other greats on the Western Conference squad. He will play alongside fellow first-timers Zach Randolph and Deron Williams.Among the two conference rosters, however, two names stand out from the rest. They must make the decision of their careers next summer, and Durant could help them.With apologies to Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James are on a different level from everyone else in the vaunted 2010 free agent class. Bosh needs to win at least one playoff series before he will ever belong in that tier.Wade and James hold the futures of their franchises in their sweaty, sacredhands.Will James bolt from his home state to become the savior for a desperate Donnie Walsh and his still-loser franchise in New York?How about New Jersey, where the Nets are on the way to the worst record in NBA history? Never mind that ownership still has yet to break ground on that spectacular new arena in Brooklyn.How many times has Bruce Ratner been close to"clearing the last hurdle?"James could also opt to sign with the L.A. Clippers. He would duel with Kobe Bryantevery seasonfor bragging rights in Los Angeles.Nevermind that the Clippers have about 15 championshipbanners worth of catching up to do before they will ever emerge from the Lakers'elephantineshadow.Wade couldglide backto his hometown ofChicago and start alongside an All-Star point guard in Derrick Rose. He would be the best player on the Bulls since you-know-who.Or he too could jump ship for the Tri-state area. Nothing says years of championship contention like a swampor James Dolan.In most instances, Durant would be the advice seeker. Instead, he is in a unique position to offer it, and he should do so when the three players meet in Dallas.They will talk at some point, right? Of course.Of all the options available next summer, staying put might prove the best one.No one can offer Wade and James more money than Miami and Cleveland. No other teams with the cap space or pieces to land the stars could promise title contention.In heading to the Tri-state area James would leave a Cavalier team with a recent Finals appearance for a franchise that hopes to get to that level. New Jersey isn't close to its early-2000s form. New York last appeared on the association's biggest stage with Jeff Van Gundy and a banged-up roster. Patrick Ewing still anchored the squad, injured as he was, against the San Antonio Spurs.New Jersey and New York management can offer the allure ofwinning Larry O'Brien trophies in ahumongous market. All Pat Riley has to do is point to the American Airlines Arena rafters wherea lone2006 banner hangs. Wade should remember the euphoria of that championship run and his Finals MVP.Durant's first All-Star selection should also remind them of something else.When the Sonics departedSeattle after 41 yearsfor the southern comfort of Oklahoma, many wondered if Durant would ever get his due playing in America's heartland.Those who shine brightest do so in New York and L.A., not a cowboy state with its own musical, they said.Oklahoma is where the windcomes sweeping down the plain, not where a high-flyer makes All-Star teams and nets endorsement deals.Durant's inclusion on the West squad should quiet the remaining few who stillbelieve the above garbage.Greatballers can be stars anywhere. No one needstoplay 41 homegames ina famousarena to matter.What Durant told ESPN's Scoop Jackson says it all."I come from a big city [Washington, D.C.]. You can get tired of the tall buildings after a while...People always ask, 'Wouldn't you rather be in Miami or L.A.? I always tell them, 'No.' This place is perfect for me."Shouldn't James' and Wade's big decisions be basketball-related ones?If James throws away the chance to bring Ohio its first pro title since 1964 to play with Jared Jefferies just so he can snag his own 24-hour TV station, he's a loser.I cannot believe he would do this.He does not need to play in New Jersey to call or be friends with rapper Jay-Z. He can visit the Empire State Building anytime he wantsin the offseason.Playing in New York or Chicago will not change howthe sport's fansview Wade and James. Those who watch already know.Do so many executies and hoops analysts revere James because the name on his uniform says "Cavaliers," or because he can score 30 points, grab 10 rebounds, and dish 10 assists against anyone?That, folks, is called a triple-double, and the Cavs' star could shatter the all-time record for thoseif he plays long enough.As fellow B/R colleague Andrew Ungvari also pointed out, James is on pace to pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer.A move to Manhattan will not make the absence of championships on James' resume less glaring, nor will it repair his streaky jumpshot or primeval post game.By virtue ofoperating in the country's largest media market, Dolan can utilize resources Dan Gilbert and the rest of Cavs' management will never sniff.Still, the NBA enforces a salary cap and a luxury tax, and with both of those figures expected to decline, the Knicks will not have enough money to fill out a title-worthy roster.Most assume David Lee will leave next summerto pursue more money and a long-term deal. Even if the supporting cast stays, does a lineup of James, Chris Bosh,Jefferies, Eddy Curry, Danilo Gallinari, Lee, Nate Robinson, and Al Harrington scream championship?Teams need selfless role players to succeed in June, and James has Anderson Varejao and a budding youngster in J.J. Hickson among many others. Compare Cleveland and New York on thedeficiency scale, and the Knicks win in a runaway.Will two supreme talents entering their primes want to start over again with a new coach, new system, and new teammates?Wade has said he wants to remain in Miami but only if Riley buys him some viable help.The Hall of Fame coach-turned exec traded for Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, and three years after the Heat made him the third pick in a loaded draft, Wade was celebrating a title.Durant appears to enjoy Oklahoma City. Some of the credit for his All-Star selection should go to GM Sam Presti for making shrewd deals with the future in mind.Thabo Sefolosha has helped the Thunder become one of the NBA's 10 best defensive units. Nenad Krstic has added frontcourt scoring.Presti also drafted Russell Westbrook fourth, when most thought he was a reach at that slot, and netted forward Jeff Green inthe Ray Allentrade.As with Wade and James, what happens next is up to Durant. He must lead his squad to the postseason before anyone of merit will consider him an elite player.Transcendent stars win in the playoffs, and Durant has played zero games in May.If he failsand that seems asunlikely as Marilyn Manson becoming the next Popeno one can cite where he plays as the reason.He lives the good life in OKC. Maybe James and Wade could use another reminder of their peachy situations.Would you turn down $30 million over the life of your nextcontract?James and Durant play to engaged sellout crowds, and Wade sometimes does. The three stars are heroes in their cities. The self-proclaimed King owns Ohio, Wade has a monopoly on Miami, and Durant suits up for the only pro franchise in the state.Durant should not tell them what to do. Not even the NBA's leading scorer since Christmas Dayhas that right.He can, however, recap his story, and it will hold some water.Manythought Thursday night's announcement would never come for Durant. His career would spiral downward in the league's latest cavity, and he would forever be the underrated forward in Oklahoma.Instead, he will play in the greatest exhibition game of them all alongside players he should emulate. Then, after a weekend of grandiose in Dallas, he will resume his leadership role on a surprise playoff hopeful.Few expected Oklahoma City to contend for a spot this year.He will drive to the hoop and slam it, post up defenders and shoot over them. Maybe his defensive intensitywill someday match what he displays nightly on the offensive end.I will watch all of it, not because of where he plays the game, but how.