Kevin Durant and LeBron James are the two biggest stars left in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, and both are craving a championship.
King James has a well-documented history that includes a messy breakup with the Cleveland Cavaliers and a tumultuous first year with the Miami Heat. His public departure to South Beach and subsequent inability to deliver a championship with Dwyane Wade has hurt his legacy.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant has quietly turned his cellar-dwelling franchise from 2008 into an elite NBA club. The 23-year-old superstar's unselfishness has rubbed off on the entire Oklahoma City Thunder team and the city.
Here are five reasons why Kevin Durant deserves an NBA Championship more than LeBron James.
Connection to OKC
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I don't want to diminish LeBron's connection with Cleveland or Miami, but the bond that Kevin Durant has with Oklahoma City is something special.
ESPN's Tom Friend wrote a fantastic feature piece on Durant that explained how he developed a bond with the city as soon as he toured the 1995 bombing site:
"As he walked the grounds and saw the memorial, he was almost overcome. He wanted to get in the gym right away, wanted to be someone the city could be proud of."
Durant takes tremendous pride in representing the city and staying involved in the community. He has been with the franchise since it was a cellar-dweller four years ago. An Oklahoma City NBA title would be a symbolic victory for all small-market teams and middle America.
A championship for LeBron in Miami just doesn't merit the same sense of fulfillment.
Clear-Cut Alpha Male
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LeBron James is undoubtedly the best player on the Heat, but there's been plenty of doubt as to which star is "the man" in Miami.
King James' inconsistency in crunch time and recent propensity to defer to Dwyane Wade make it unclear as to who the alpha male is.
From a captaincy and fourth-quarter perspective, Kevin Durant deserves a title more because of the distinct leader he is.
Russell Westbrook and James Harden are superb players, but when push comes to shove, Durant is in charge. No one doubts who will take the last shot for Oklahoma City.
No Hoopla in Re-Signing
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The summer of 2010 was the summer of "The Decision" for LeBron James, a drawn out event consisting of James courting the major-market suitors and broadcasting his decision to leave Cleveland on national television.
While Miami's new hero was busy broadcasting his choice and smiling for the cameras at the ensuing pep rally, Kevin Durant was making a decision of his own, albeit a much quieter one.
That summer, Durant signed a contract extension that will keep him in Oklahoma City until 2016. There weren't any broadcasts or whirlwind negotiations with several cities. He just tweeted that he re-signed and was excited to continue representing the Thunder.
Better Role Model
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LeBron James isn't a horrible role model, but if my kids were choosing between Kevin Durant and James, I'd point them in the direction of Durant.
It would be great for basketball fans and young fans in particular if Durant won a ring.
He provides a great example of humility and gratitude. He's thankful for his gifts and talents, and he shares his joy for the game with everyone sitting courtside.
Durant has made it clear he doesn't want to be labeled as an anit-LeBron, but Bleacher Report's Nicholas Goss discussed how people are naturally gravitating toward his personality rather than LeBron's:
"While Durant may disagree that he's the anti-LeBron, many of the league's young stars have chosen to follow Durant's model of handling superstardom instead of James'.
Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose, the reigning NBA MVP, is one of the quietest superstars in the league and has followed in Durant's footsteps by not making a big deal of his accomplishments and contract signings."
Tougher Road to Finals
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It's become readily apparent that the Eastern Conference is weaker than the Western Conference, and the Miami Heat have an easier path to the NBA Finals than the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kevin Durant's path to the title has been filled with Hall of Fame obstacles like Dirk Nowitzki, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. LeBron James has encountered a dysfunctional Knicks team, a young Pacers squad and an aging Celtics club.
Sure, a win is a win, and a championship is legitimate no matter who you play to get it. But you tell me which star's title would be more gratifying.
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