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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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WNBA All-Star Paige Bueckers is now in her second season, but remains constantly in the lab to refine her game, and she's doing so alongside elite-level NBA players.
A behind-the-scenes video features the Dallas Wings star and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant working with coach and consultant Adam Harrington on a variety of skills they can bring to their games.
The two players go through a drill of a quick one-dribble low to the court at the free throw line and then pop up to hit a jump shot. In another piece of the footage, KD is teaching Bueckers how to perfect a turnaround move to dribble and create space from a defender for her jump shot.
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There's also a chair drill where the two players are navigating around a chair set on the court to represent a defender. After several nifty moves, KD and Bueckers each knock down jumpers.
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Their connection makes plenty of sense due to both players playing in Texas, although the video recently came from Chicago during the WNBA All-Star Weekend. The 16-time NBA All-Star Durant is in the offseason with the Rockets, and Bueckers is playing in her second WNBA All-Star Game this weekend.
Seeing a younger and rising talent in the WNBA putting in the work with a player who has accomplished so much in the NBA is a big reason that Bueckers is the future of the league, along with other young stars, including Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Olivia Miles.
It could also be the reason why Bueckers and the Dallas Wings are off to a more respectable record in her second season. They added another former No. 1 pick in Azzi Fudd, and Jessica Shepard is playing like an MVP.
Durant has risen to the upper echelon of NBA greats, as he is fourth overall on the all-time points scored list with 32,597 in his career, and counting. He's also achieved the NBA MVP and won two championships while playing with the Golden State Warriors.
KD will enter his 19th NBA season and second with the Rockets, as they look to compete in a stacked Western Conference. It's clear he's looking to improve his game however he can, even this deep into his career.
Bueckers is averaging 20.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, with a 39.2% 3-point shooting percentage. All of these are improvements over her rookie season, and her ceiling seems high for what she can achieve in the league. The recent BTS footage showcases her dedicated mindset on getting better early in her career and beyond.
As the league has the annual WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday night, the Wings sit at fourth-best in the WNBA with an 18-9 record, thanks to Bueckers' stellar play alongside her teammates.
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