Thunder: Durant shines on Jim Rome show

Kevin Durant was a guest on ESPN’s Jim Rome Is Burning show Friday and showed Rome and all of his watchers why Durant might be the NBA’s most lovable superstar.

Rome asked Durant why he wasn’t mentioned among the prime NBA candidates. Which is a legit question. Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Kobe, Dirk Nowitzki. All are mentioned above Durant, who was second in the MVP voting a year ago.

“I’m fine with that,” Durant told Rome. “I just have to play better. If I’d have played better maybe I would be in the MVP race. I wish I’d have had a better year.”

Think about that. Durant just led the NBA in scoring. The Thunder is more than a darkhorse in the Western Conference playoffs; all kinds of people are on the Thunder bandwagon. He’s elevated his game, particularly on defense and rebounding. And yet Durant blames himself for any shortcomings in the MVP voting.

“It is what it is,” Durant said. “We’re winning basketball games. That’s all I have to worry about. I’m getting better as a leader and as a player. I wish I’d have had a better year shooting the basketball, rebounding the basketball and passing. I have time on my side. Hopefully next year.”

Rome asked Durant who deserves the MVP award.

“Derrick Rose without question,” Durant said. “How he’s elevated that team (the Bulls). They’re the best team in the league. It’s unbelievable. It also shows the young guys don’t always have to wait to become MVPs or first-team all-NBA or all-stars. Your time can be now. He’s setting the bar high for guys coming into the league.”