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**Breaking News: Phoenix Star Kevin Durant Wins ACC Rookie and Player of the Year Honors**
*By SportsDesk | May 9, 2025*
In a stunning twist that has captivated the sports world, Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant has claimed both the **ACC Rookie of the Year** and **ACC Player of the Year** awards in a shocking, surreal development that has fans and analysts buzzing.
While Durant is already a two-time NBA champion and 16-time All-Star, his recent surprise enrollment at Duke University—at the age of 36—sent ripples through the basketball community. His decision to play collegiate basketball after a legendary pro career defied all conventional wisdom, but Durant made it clear: he wasn’t done making history.
“It’s something I always wanted to do,” Durant said in a press conference. “I missed out on the college experience when I went one-and-done at Texas, and I felt like this was the right time in my life to take on a new challenge, even if it sounds crazy.”
Crazy or not, Durant dominated the Atlantic Coast Conference with the same lethal efficiency that defined his NBA career. Averaging 27.6 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game for the Blue Devils, Durant led Duke to a 31-2 record and a #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. His mid-range fadeaway remained unguardable, and his veteran leadership turned Duke into a powerhouse with the maturity of an NBA roster.
The ACC announced today that Durant had been unanimously selected as both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year—a feat never before accomplished by a player in his 30s, let alone someone with an NBA MVP and Finals MVP on his résumé.
“Kevin changed the perception of what it means to be a college athlete,” said ACC Commissioner Carla Thompson. “His decision to return to school, to compete at this level with humility and intensity, was inspiring not only to his teammates but to the entire college basketball world.”
Durant’s return to school was made possible by a little-known NCAA loophole allowing former professionals to regain amateur eligibility if they re-enroll in full-time academic programs and do not receive payment for playing. Durant, who is pursuing a degree in sociology, was reportedly seen attending 8 a.m. lectures, engaging in study groups, and mentoring younger players off the court.
“I wasn’t just here to play basketball,” Durant said. “I wanted to grow as a person, help the next generation, and prove that love for the game never fades.”
While it remains unclear whether Durant will enter the 2025 NBA Draft for a second time—joking that he “might go lottery again”—his impact on college basketball will be felt for years.
Social media exploded following the announcement, with fans coining hashtags like #KDBack2School and #RookieGOAT. Even LeBron James tweeted, “This man really just won Rookie of the Year again. Legend stuff.”
Durant is expected to lead Duke into March Madness with the same fire he’s shown all season. One thing is certain: Kevin Durant’s second act is every bit as historic as his first.
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