Kevin Durant Gave a WNBA Rising Star a Private Lesson in His Signature Shot

Kevin Durant is spending part of his offseason doing something that should terrify the rest of the WNBA. He’s teaching his mid-range game to one of the league’s most promising young players.

The Houston Rockets forward linked up with Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga for a one-on-one session recently. Video posted by the WNBA on ION account shows Durant breaking down the footwork and mechanics of his patented mid-range jumper. The 20-year-old Malonga watches closely and then tries it herself. It looks pretty smooth for someone who just got a tutorial from one of the best scorers to ever play.

Malonga is already having a breakout second season. The 6-foot-6 Cameroonian is averaging 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 46.3 percent from the field. She earned an All-Star selection this year. That’s a big leap for a player who went No. 2 overall in the 2024 WNBA draft. Which is the same spot Durant went in the 2007 NBA draft. So there’s that connection too.

Durant has always been generous with his knowledge. He’s worked out with young NBA guys for years. But seeing him invest time in a WNBA player, especially one from Seattle, feels notable. The Storm are in a rough spot at 6-18. Malonga is the clear building block. Getting tutelage from a future Hall of Famer can only accelerate her development.

The near-7-foot Durant revolutionized what a forward could do with a jumper. He made the mid-range look easy when everyone else was chasing threes and layups. Malonga has the size and wingspan to cause similar problems. If she can consistently knock down that pull-up from 15 to 18 feet, defenders are in trouble. They already have to respect her inside game. Add that mid-range weapon and she becomes a matchup nightmare.

Malonga showed off some of what she learned Thursday night. She put up 15 points and nine rebounds in an 89-78 loss to the Atlanta Dream. Not a win. But the offensive flow looked good. More of that on Sunday when the Storm take on the Washington Mystics.

Durant turned 38 last September. He’s still one of the most dangerous scorers alive. And now there’s a 20-year-old in Seattle who got a private masterclass. That feels like a problem for the rest of the league for a long time.