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An NBA season of highest highs for some, and lowest lows for others

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, tries to drive past Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons during an April 4 game. Durant is making a strong case to win the NBA's MVP award this season.
(Scott Halleran / Getty Images)
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Almost everyone gets to see the crazy step-back three-pointers and wild flip-ins that make Kevin Durant so great, his top plays consuming hours of air time on ESPN, TNT, NBA TV, etc.

Considerably fewer have been privy to the madness that is Byron Mullens.

A “highlight” video on YouTube that shows the Philadelphia 76ers reserve center failing to box out and then airballing a three-pointer five seconds into the shot clock has generated fewer than 11,000 views.

In the interest of fairness, we consider it our duty to bring you the worst of the NBA in addition to the best.

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Mullens qualifies as the pits this season, his averages of 4.0 points and 1.9 rebounds per game not doing his dreadfulness justice. There’s a reason he has also averaged only 9.0 minutes and was traded by the Clippers in February to the one NBA team openly trying to lose games.

Durant is a keeper for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who would eagerly sign him to a lifetime contract were it permissible. His league-leading average of 31.9 points is only part of the reason he should win his first most valuable player award. Durant is much improved defensively and is as clutch as they come, his three-pointer in the final minute Wednesday against the Clippers ending their hopes of overtaking the Thunder for the No. 2 seeding in the Western Conference.

There was also that insane streak of 41 consecutive games with at least 25 points, showing Durant has also become the game’s most consistent player in addition to its most spindly wonder.

Here, for your consideration, are our other award winners (along with their alter egos):

Coach of the year: Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix.

The Suns’ season was supposed to be over before it started when the team traded Marcin Gortat in October for an injured Emeka Okafor and a draft pick. Nope.

Phoenix could be a couple of victories away from making the playoffs in the rugged Western Conference, largely because of a rookie coach who looks as youthful as some of his players.

The Suns have the league’s biggest jump in winning percentage (.290) from last season and might have secured homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs if Eric Bledsoe hadn’t missed more than two months because of a knee injury. Credit Hornacek’s run-and-fun offense and his masterful handling of a team on the rise.

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Coach of the jeer: Mike Brown, Cleveland.

It all seemed so promising, Brown returning to the franchise he guided to the 2010 Finals with a rejuvenated Andrew Bynum, top draft pick Anthony Bennett and an emerging talent in Earl Clark.

Now only one question remains: Who was the biggest bust? Bynum’s knees and his attitude gave out, Bennett played like an undrafted rookie and Clark faded into obscurity. Brown only exacerbated matters with epic practice sessions and an overbearing presence that could drive away dynamic point guard Kyrie Irving.

Rookie of the year: Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia.

It was a two-man race between Carter-Williams and Orlando’s Victor Oladipo, both of whom thrived despite toiling in the NBA’s hinterlands.

Carter-Williams gets the nod despite experiencing a downturn in the second half of the season because he did more on a worse team, blossoming into one of the league’s most well-rounded young players.

Worst newcomer of the year: Otto Porter, Washington.

Bennett was more widely panned because he was the top pick, but Porter, drafted only two spots later, had a worse season after missing three months with a hip injury. His averages of 2.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists should make the Wizards petition the NBA to allow him to return to Georgetown for another season.

Sixth man of the year: Jamal Crawford, Clippers.

Crawford brought more than instant offense. The crossover specialist tallied more rebounds and assists than he did in his first season as a Clipper while playing starter’s minutes.

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He also was huge in helping the Clippers stay afloat during Chris Paul’s six-week absence with a separated shoulder and has more four-point plans than any president in U.S. history.

Thirteenth man of the year: Chris Kaman, Lakers.

Kaman should never be an end-of-the-bench player. No way. The guy was an All-Star in 2010 and has had a solid 11-season NBA career.

None of that mattered to Lakers Coach Mike D’Antoni, who relegated the 7-footer to an afterthought in his small-ball lineup until a flurry of injuries gave him no other choice. So what did Kaman do? He collected 28 points and 17 rebounds in one game and tallied double-doubles in a few others.

Kaman has averages of 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes, nearly identical to those of starting center Pau Gasol. Someone tell D’Antoni.

Most improved player: Gerald Green, Phoenix.

Green averaged 16.0 points, doubling his average from his first six NBA seasons, while occasionally getting hotter than Scottsdale in July. He scored 30 or more points in 30 minutes or less four times, becoming the first player to do so since Michael Jordan in 1990-91.

He also became an elite shooter, his 3.2 three-pointers per 36 minutes tying Golden State’s Stephen Curry for the league lead.

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Most deteriorated player: Harrison Barnes, Golden State.

Considering a rising star as a rookie, Barnes has taken two steps backward after being replaced in the starting lineup by Andre Iguodala. Confidence issues seem to be at work here, along with an errant shooting touch.

Defensive player of the year: Roy Hibbert, Indiana.

Widely available advanced metrics make this selection a lot easier than in years past. Hibbert is holding opponents to 41.6% shooting and 4.1 shots made at the rim, both figures better than those of contenders DeAndre Jordan and Serge Ibaka.

Defenseless player of the year: Gasol.

No advanced metrics needed. Have you seen a Lakers game?

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch

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