OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kevin Durant walks around without the burden of pressure that LeBron James and the Miami Heat can never escape.
Durant doesn't seek the spotlight and it seldom comes to Oklahoma looking for him. He rarely makes much news and wouldn't read it anyway, preferring the quiet life the Heat's superstars gave up when they promised championships moments after joining up two summers ago.
Durant may not be able to hide much longer.
A few more performances like he had in the opener of the NBA Finals — when he scored 17 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter of the Thunder's 105-94 victory — and Durant could take his place as the league's biggest star.
He will try to get a step closer in Game 2 on Thursday night.