Kevin Durant game winner vs Dallas Mavericks

As time expired Thursday night and Kevin Durant held his fist skyward, it immediately became apparent that the 23-year-old is no longer a commodity or a sideshow in the National Basketball Association. He’s the main attraction.Dec 30, 2011 – With just under 10 seconds left in Thursday night’s Western Conference Finals rematch, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder appeared to have stolen a win from the Dallas Mavericks.

But following a pair of botched free throws by OKC forward Serge Ibaka, the momentum seemed to swing in favor of the Mavs. The defending champs were getting the ball back, down just two points and NBA Finals MVP Dirk Nowitzki was straight money from just about anywhere on the floor. It seemed like a done deal.As I sat up, my mind didn’t even register that arguably the NBA’s best player, Kevin Durant, stood in the other team’s huddle methodically plotting his kill shot – the 27 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists just not enough to satisfy the kid.

Out of the timeout, it was No. 35′s time to shine. Kevin Durant walked to his place off the corner of the arc, eyes focused, mouth closed, nostrils’ flared — it was almost as if Carter’s bucket had awoken the beast within.Thabo Sefolosha looking low as the play develops and an almost enraged KD whips around the screen at the right of the arc, spinning off a defender for the quick catch and shoot from almost 27-feet. The shot seemed reminiscent of plays in Kevin Durant’s past, where the talented youngster would pull up from nearly anywhere on the court and launch an ill advised shot in a desperate attempt for a win.

On this night, it was different though. As Kevin Durant’s sneakers sprung from the hardwood, leaping high above three Mavs defenders left standing in front, the 23-year-old no longer had the look of a careless kid heaving a hopeless brick. He was now a crafty veteran with a nose for the net and a killer instinct spawning inside.From the moment it left his hand, it seemed almost inevitable. The sweet sailing ball glided through the air with no sense of urgency, quietly floating to the basket as if it were anyone of Kevin Durant’s other 15 shots on the night.Yet, as time expired and Kevin Durant held his fist skyward, his Thunder teammates flocking like animals to Noah’s Ark, it immediately became apparent that the 23-year-old is no longer a commodity or a sideshow. He’s the main attraction.

In his first three seasons, Kevin Durant was widely viewed as just a fascinating lure to NBA fans. He was young, athletic and entertaining. He could score 50 on any given night, flash an amazing dunk for the highlight reel and during his days off, when not locked in the gym, he’d be playing Xbox or filling in on a local flag football team. Basically, Kevin Durant was just an ordinary kid with an extraordinary ability to shoot hoops.

Kevin Durant game winner vs Dallas Mavericks