You sit ahead of players such as Adrian Dantley, Shaquille O'Neal, Carmelo Anthony and Elton Brand on the all-time, under-21 scoring average list. You've recorded the second most 40-point games by a player under 21 since 1986-87.

As the Thunder opens training camp today, many project you to take the next step in your career and punch your ticket to Dallas in February as a first-time All-Star. Some even think you've aged enough to lift Oklahoma City into the postseason. They are even not-so-quiet rumblings of you averaging 30 points, if not in 2009-10, then not long afterward.

This is the kind of attention you receive when your first two seasons far and away exceed the hype showered upon you while you were wrapping up National Player of the Year honors at Texas and navigating your way to the No. 2 overall pick.

"It's very humbling, and I'm very blessed to be given the opportunities I was given coming into this league," you said at Monday's media day. "And having some of the players that I've played with and the coaching staffs that I've played for has been a blessing. They've done everything they can for me, and so it feels good. Just to be one of the elite is a great feeling for me."

You have indeed arrived. And your teammates say you've earned it. They enter this season gladly giving you glory.

"Just being able to watch him has been pretty cool," said Jeff Green. "He's improved every year. The hard work that he's put into it is really paying off for him. I think he deserves everything he's gotten so far. And his best is yet to come. He has a bright, bright, bright future for himself."

Your first two years have been sprinkled with successes that suggests stardom sooner rather than later.

The game-winning 3-pointer on the road that buried Atlanta in overtime in only your 10th NBA game. The 30-point, five-rebound, four-assists effort you poured in at Madison Square Garden in a December win against the Knicks while fighting off the worst nervousness you've ever experienced before a game. And of course, the four 40-point games you wowed crowds with in Oklahoma City (twice), Los Angeles and Oakland. Not to mention the Rookie Challenge record 46 points you produced last February in Phoenix.

"Being able to do the things that he's individually accomplished speaks for itself," said Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks. "I've been fortunate to be with the team going on three years, and you see his improvement. You thought that he was pretty good as a rookie, and you saw improvement as a second-year player. You only see the improvement because he works at it. The guy's a gym rat. He gets after it every day."

Your veteran teammates will tell you how rare such a work ethic has become in this league for a player of your caliber. They'll tell you it's refreshing.

"You see guys that are blessed with a lot of talent all the time," said newcomer Etan Thomas. "But when you have that combination of being blessed with a lot of talent and you work hard, that's something that can be scary. And I think he can be really scary here coming up. You're going to see a lot of great things from him.

"The sky's the limit for him. I really think that. He is a special talent. We're going to be talking about him for a long time."

NBA'S TOP SCORING AVERAGES FOR PLAYERS UNDER 21

IN GOOD COMPANY

A look at where Kevin Durant ranks on the scoring average list for players under 21.

Player Team Season Age Ppg. Spencer Haywood Denver (ABA) 1969-70 20 30.0 LeBron James Cleveland 2004-05 20 27.2 Kevin Durant Oklahoma City 2008-09 20 25.3 Shaquille O'Neal Orlando 1992-93 20 23.4 Carmelo Anthony Denver 2003-04 19 21.0 LeBron James Cleveland 2003-04 19 20.9 Carmelo Anthony Denver 2004-05 20 20.8 Adrian Dantley Buffalo 1976-77 20 20.3 Kevin Durant Seattle 2007-08 19 20.3 Elton Brand Chicago 1999-00 20 20.1

Source: Basketball-reference.com NBA's top scoring averages for players under 21

THE 40-POINT CLUB

Where Durant ranks among players with 40-point games before age 21 since 1986-87.

Rank Player Team Games 1 LeBron James Cleveland 5 2 Kevin Durant Seattle/OKC 4 3 Carmelo Anthony Denver 1 4 Shaquille O'Neal Orlando 1 5 Eric Gordon L.A. Clippers 1

Source: Basketball-reference.com