Survey Says Durant is Top Rookie

NBA.com released a 2007-08 Rookie survery on its site which proclaims Kevin Durant as preseason favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award. Durant was also voted above Oden in terms of who would make more All-Star game appearances before they finished their career. The survey was conducted by NBA.com, who gave several questions to the 44 rookies in attendance at a rookie photo shoot on July 27.

Durant received 23 of 44 votes (53%) over 5 votes for Greg Oden to receive rookie of the year. You might attribute this to the fact that Durant had a strong showing in the Vegas Summer league, with some mega scoring efforts. Also add in that Oden didn't play all of the summer league, due to leaving for a tonsillectomy procedure.

The rookie who was voted #1 in the "know least about" category was the big man from China, Yi Jianlian, of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Another interesting question asked of the rookies: Which current NBA player are you most looking forward to playing against? (Votes followed by percentage)

1. Kobe Bryant, LAL 10 24.4
2. Shaquille O'Neal, MIA 5 12.2
3. Tim Duncan, SAS 3 7.3
Kevin Garnett, MIN 3 7.3
LeBron James, CLE 3 7.3
Steve Nash, PHX 3 7.3

I find it odd anyone looks forward to playing Shaq, because those young rooks will be getting bulldozed over, at least for a few years to come.

Check out the 2007-08 NBA.com Rookie Survey at NBA.com.