Rookie Watch: Durant ends season at head of class
By David Thorpe
ESPN.com
(Archive)
Updated: April 16, 2008
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Coming into the season, the rookie class of 2007 looked like it would produce two great players and a bunch of solid guys, at best. But as I wrap up our final report and rankings, it's clear this class might go down as one of the best and deepest ever.
From older rookies who were not drafted in June to young guys who played like veterans, many of these guys will be serious contributors for years to come. And there are superstars in the making, too.
With a year under their belts, I hope they have learned their lessons well, because there will be dozens of guys competing to take their spots, starting this summer. There is little time to rest.
With that said, here's a look at my final top 10. (Click here for my final Rookie 50 rankings.)
1. Kevin Durant, SuperSonics
Durant is my clear-cut choice for rookie of the year. It might have taken him awhile to figure out how best to take advantage of his talents, but at least he did so before season's end, as many rookies don't.
He is not just a future All-Star, but perhaps an Olympic gold medalist, an NBA Finals MVP and even a member of an All-NBA first team. LeBron James might be the world's best player right now, but a focused and dedicated Durant can give him a run for that top billing one day. Remember, Durant still is just 19 years young. And he will get stronger and smarter and more skilled.
I see a time when he will make a living in the post against smaller defenders while scorching taller guys with dribble-drives or coming off screens. In short, he can be an unguardable player, one who will draw special defensive looks from his opponents on a nightly basis. And by studying the game from a defensive perspective, he can make a huge leap in his off-the-ball defense and become a key factor on that end of the floor as well.
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2. Al Horford, Hawks
Horford might never be in the running for an All-NBA first team (although I'm not ruling that out), but there's no doubt he will continue to help his team win games like never before.
Consider that the Florida Gators never had won an SEC tournament before he showed up and won three straight after he arrived. Not to mention, they won their first two national championships with him on board. And this season, the Hawks, who owned the longest playoff drought in the NBA, are in the postseason with him controlling the paint and competing hard and unselfishly at all times. Atlanta's future never has looked brighter.
As he spends time working on his scoring moves, he also needs to hope the Hawks' coaching staff starts to value getting the ball into his hands more.
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3. Luis Scola, Rockets
Scola might be old by rookie standards, and he definitely has an "old man's" game, but I've enjoyed watching him play more than any other rookie this season. He fits in so seamlessly with whatever his team is trying to do because he's such a versatile performer. He played an incredibly important role during the Rockets' 22-game winning streak, and it looks like he'll be a fixture in Houston for years to come.
He's a shining example of how brains, skill, feel and toughness can measure up to, and often surpass, sheer athleticism. It is difficult to understand why the Spurs didn't want to keep him; sending him to a division rival is more perplexing now because we all have seen just how effective he is.
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4. Thaddeus Young, Sixers
When all is said and done, Young might turn out to be the second or third best player from this draft class. His upside is sky high, and he's already really good. He has outstanding speed and knows how to use it, and he has a great feel around the rim.
Ultimately, he will reach his peak only if and when he adds a long-range shot to his offensive game. But even if he never develops one, he will be a strong NBA player who can defend multiple positions and provide matchup issues for any opponent guarding him.
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5. Carl Landry, Rockets
Landry just makes me smile. I need a calculator to figure out how many NBA people told me he is too small to play in this league. Yet, there seems to be at least one player from each draft class who overcomes size issues and proves to be an effective player. Landry appears to be that guy from this group.
He's played only half of the Rockets' games this season, but his statistics have been astounding. He and Scola give the Rockets perhaps the best 1-2 punch at power forward in the league. Not bad for a pair of rookies, no matter how old they might be.
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6. Jamario Moon, Raptors
I first watched Moon play in early November. I kept expecting him to get overpowered and overwhelmed. But all I saw was him making plays on both ends of the court. There is no question his age and experience are key to why he has outplayed so many guys -- both teammates and opponents -- but he's got talent, too.
He's the best rebounding small forward in the league, statistically speaking, and he's an excellent finisher around the basket. Factor in his on-ball and help defense, and you can see why he started 78 games for the Raps.
Like Young, adding a consistent long-range jumper would propel him to another level amongst the league's top wing players.
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7. Joakim Noah, Bulls
Noah is all about intangibles, but he's a stat stuffer, too. And maybe most impressively, he's not afraid to speak his mind or call himself or his teammates out, which is rare in the league today.
As he matures physically, the Bulls will find they have a player who can play two positions on both ends of the floor, one who takes great joy in the success of his teammates and leads by example every minute he's on the court.
He greatly improved his free-throw shooting during the season, and now he needs a similar approach to his perimeter shooting to be a more effective offensive player next season.
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8. Al Thornton, Clippers
Of all the rookies, Thornton (along with Noah) might have played the hardest. He exhibited his athleticism and skills once the Clippers unleashed him. But it was his effort that saved him from himself; without solid rebounding numbers, his season would have looked like Adam Morrison's last season -- lots of inefficient scoring and few effective passes.
He got much better as the season progressed and looks like a legitimate starter going into next season. When his game was on, no rookie put up better performances than Thornton, who often served as his team's No. 1 scoring option from both the wing and the post. However, he did play too fast much of the time -- a fact that will jump out at him if he spends the summer watching film.
