Kevin Durant tabbed NBA Most Valuable Player

NEW YORK — Former University of Texas star Kevin Durant has been named the NBA Most Valuable Player, the league announced Tuesday morning. Durant becomes the first Longhorn to earn the prestigious honor.

Durant received 119 of a possible 125 first-place votes. This marks Durant’s first MVP award after finishing second three times. He became the first player to win both the MVP award and the scoring title in the same season since Allen Iverson in 2000-01.

Currently in his seventh season in the league, Durant averaged an NBA-best 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and a career-high 5.5 assists per game in 81 games during the regular season. He won his fourth scoring title in five years, joining Michael Jordan, George Gervin and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to do so. Durant converted 50.3% from the floor, including 39.1% from three-point range, and 87.3% from the free throw line this year.

“Our entire basketball family is so proud of Kevin and this well-deserved honor,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “Knowing Kevin, he will consider this a team award. Although this is a great honor, there’s no doubt that Kevin’s only thoughts now are about his team winning and advancing in the playoffs.

“I also need to take a moment to congratulate LaMarcus Aldridge on an excellent season that should have warranted MVP consideration as well,” Barnes continued. “Both of these individuals are such great ambassadors for the game of basketball and great representatives for The University of Texas. What makes both of them special is that they are such good people. Every Texas fan should be extremely proud of both of them.”