User:Sportsdud55

LeBron James

During the 2007 Playoffs, played in 20 games (all starts)…averaged 25.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game…during the NBA Finals, averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game…had at least six rebounds in all four games during The Finals…in the conference finals versus Detroit, averaged 25.7 points, 9.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game…scored a franchise-record 48 points on 18-33 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and seven assists in Game 5 at Detroit…scored 29 of the Cavaliers final 30 points including the last 25 points overall…over the final four games of the conference finals, averaged 31.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game…set a franchise record for double-doubles in a playoff season with eight (passed Brad Daugherty)…tied his playoff career high with 14 rebounds in Game 6 versus Detroit to go along with 20 points and eight assists…dished out at least seven assists in 15 of the 16 playoff games in the first three rounds…scored 36 points and posted a career-playoff high tying 12 assists in Game 2 versus New Jersey…dished out a career playoff-high tying 12 assists in back-to-back games (Games 2 and 3) versus New Jersey…had at least seven assists in each of the first eight playoff games to become the first Cavalier ever and the first non-guard in NBA history to have at least seven assists in eight straight playoff games…posted four consecutive double-doubles from Game 4 at Washington through Game 3 at New Jersey…averaged 24.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the Conference Semifinals versus New Jersey…in the first round against Washington, played in four games (all starts) and averaged 27.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 45.5 minutes per game…posted at least 23 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists in all four games versus Washington…during the 2006 Playoffs, played in 13 games (13 starts)…averaged 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists…scored a Cavaliers playoff record for most points during a playoff season (400 points)…joined Oscar Robertson (1963) as the only two players to average at least 30.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in a single postseason…averaged 35.7 points in the six-game first round series against Washington…his scoring average was the third-highest for a player in their debut playoff series behind only Wilt Chamberlain (38.7 in 1960) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (36.2 in 1970)…his average in the Washington series was the highest scoring playoff series in team history (previously Campy Russell in the 1978 playoffs at 27.5 points per game) while tallying the most total points as well (214)…scored a then franchise playoff record 45 points vs. Washington in Game 5 on May 3…posted 32 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in game one vs. Washington to become the second youngest player in NBA history to post a playoff triple-double (and only the third player ever to post a triple-double in his playoff debut (Johnny McCarthy and Magic Johnson)…became the first player in NBA history to score more than 40 points in his first playoff road game with 41 points in Game 3 at Washington during the 2006 Playoffs…averaged 26.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 6.0 assists against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals…entering the second round of the 2007 Playoffs, James ranks third among all NBA players in history (minimum 400 points) in playoff scoring average at 30.1 points per game (Michael Jordan averaged 33.4 points and Allen Iverson has averaged 30.2 points).

Kevin Durant Durant declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft on April 11, 2007 and signed his first professional contract on May 25. His contract was with Upper Deck, Co., who said that Durant will be the focus of their 2007-08 NBA trading card line. Durant was also announced to be the coverboy of the new NCAA March Madness 2008 video game by EA Sports. He is also featured in commercials for EA's NBA Live 2008 video game, alongside Gilbert Arenas. On June 28, 2007, Durant was taken second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. In the proceeding month, Durant went on to sign a seven year, $60 million endorsement deal with Nike - a rookie deal only surpassed by LeBron James' contract with Nike. He reportedly turned down a potential $70 million contract with Adidas. He said he chose Nike because he has worn them all his life. After playing a few games in the NBA Summer League, Durant played in the State Farm USA basketball challenge, scoring 22 points for the Blue team. He played alongside NBA all-stars like LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard. His stay with the team, however, was short lived, as he was dropped from the team when the roster was trimmed to the twelve player limit. Coach Mike Krzyzewski cited the experience of the remaining players as the deciding factor in making the cut. On October 3, 2007, Sonics coach PJ Carlesimo said that Durant would play shooting guard in the NBA, at least for the time being. On October 31, 2007, Durant made his NBA debut with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. On November 1, 2007 Durant had 27 points in a close loss to the Phoenix Suns. It must be noted that Durant received accolades from defensive standout Raja Bell. Suns forward Shawn Marion had accolades for Durant as well. As of November 5, 2007 Durant has averaged 23 points per game through the first three games of the season. On November 16, 2007 Durant made his first game winning shot of his NBA career with a key 3-pointer to beat the Atlanta Hawks in double overtime. Durant had 21 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. However, through Nov. 2007, Durant has not put up an impressive shooting percentage with a .372 FG percentage. So far into his rookie season, Durant has played solidly, averaging 18 points and 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. He also leads all rookies in scoring for the season. However his team, the Seattle Sonics continue to struggle to win games. On November 30, 2007, Durant scored a career high 35 points to beat the Indiana Pacers, on 12 of 20 shooting. Also, 3 of 5 from the 3 point line. He also had: 5 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.