Durant shouldering big expectations for Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY -- He peels off the Boys & Girls Club jersey. Drew-Freeman middle school comes off next, followed by Montrose Christian high, McDonald's All-American, the University of Texas, Seattle and finally ... Oklahoma City.

"I've removed a couple of jerseys," Kevin Durant said, "so I'm just adding another one to the collection."

Quick, call the "Where Amazing Happens" boys. It may be time to reshoot that memorable commercial.

Post-production aside, Durant is once again changing his colors and is on the move. One constant remains through each wardrobe adjustment: Durant is still the man. That's not going to change anytime soon.

• VIDEO: NBA TV's Thunder season preview
• Garcia: Oklahoma City ready to weather Thunder's growing pains

"I'm always moving. Every year is something new for me," Durant said. "I'm kinda used to it. It's just something you have to go through, a part of the business of basketball.

"I'm excited to be here. Seattle was a great place to live and play basketball, but I'm excited to be here in Oklahoma."

Durant, his teammates and the entire Thunder organization don't have any illusions about the attention focused on No. 35. He's the face of the franchise. A former college wunderkind charged with leading Oklahoma's first major-league team to respectability.

Those, at least, are the outward expectations. Durant is the easy sell to NBA fans and media. Last season's Rookie of the Year has the talent, the street cred and oozes confidence in front of a camera. He'll sell a Nike or two.

Yet, there's been a deliberate effort not to place too much pressure on those broom-handle shoulders. And that strategy has nothing to do with his physical stature, though Durant's lean build/scoring acumen brings to mind Reggie Miller and George Gervin.

"Externally, we can't control what people outside our organization say or expectations they place on him," general manager Sam Presti said. "Internally, our expectations for him are the same as they are for our other players: you come to work every day as a professional, work to get better and improve, be a great teammate, handle yourself as a good person in the community."

Checks across the board. Durant just turned 20 and his interests mirror that of your average, early teenager. Most nights, video games are the preferred entertainment choice. So consumed by basketball, the good-natured Washington, D.C. native didn't start driving until 18.

Don't mistake his way for immaturity. The franchise is hardly concerned about his ability to lead. As the Sonics' top scorer, Durant joined LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony as the only teenagers in league history to average at least 20 points per game. Showing his versatility, the 6-foot-9 swingman also led the team (and all guards) in blocks.

The Thunder's front office is attempting to build a supporting cast around Durant where "support" is the operative word. The aim is finding complementary pieces that can still play ball.

Small forward Jeff Green joined Durant on the All-Rookie team last season. The duo improved as the season went on and peaked in April. Green, though, isn't interested in stealing Durant's thunder.

"I'm not the type of guy who always wants the spotlight," Green said. "I want to make his game a lot easier and take the pressure off his shoulders. I'm not here to take his spotlight. He deserves everything he gets."

Including the burden of the being the one foes focus on shutting down every night.

"He can handle it. He's been handling it throughout his career," coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "We're not going to be good just because of Kevin Durant. It doesn't matter how good Kevin is. If we're not a good basketball team, we're not going to be successful."

Carlesimo pointed out what every successful franchise knows, "There's no such thing as a one-man team in this league."

Michael Jordan couldn't do it alone. Washington, anyone? Kevin Garnett proved that adage true once again in June.

"For us to be where we want to be as a franchise, it's going to take a lot more than Kevin," Carlesimo added. "We're delighted that we have Kevin and hopefully Kevin will stay as the face of the franchise for a long time, but he'll be the first to tell you that it's going to take a lot of people contributing for us to be good."

He does readily admit it. He also knows that visits from Oklahoma City will likely be billed as "Durant and the Thunder" coming to town. Again, the easy sell.

"Everybody outside of the franchise sees me as that, but everybody I deal with everyday, we don't look at it like that," Durant said. "We're all one group. I'm glad that's how it is here. I wouldn't want it any other way."