SEATTLE (AP) -- An NBA source with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Seattle SuperSonics star Kevin Durant will be named NBA rookie of the year.

The announcement is expected to become official on Thursday.

Durant was the SuperSonics leading scorer, living up to the lofty expectations placed on him after being the national college player of the year at Texas and the No. 2 overall pick in last June's draft.

AP

Kevin Durant poses with a USA Basketball senior national team jersey as he officially joins the team during a news conference in Las Vegas, Wednesday, May 23, 2007.

The source asked to remain anonymous since the official announcement has not been made.

Durant averaged 20.3 points -- the highest scoring average for a rookie since LeBron James averaged 20.9 points per game in 2003-04. Durant was named Western Conference rookie of the month five times and closed the season with a career-high 42 points against Golden State.

Durant beat out the other two top contenders -- Atlanta's Al Horford and Houston's Luis Scola.