Rockets’ Kevin Durant minds the game, brilliantly explains mid-range jumpers

Durant made it clear that not every player should be told to launch threes. “You can’t tell Bron, Luka or Austin Reaves not to shoot midrange shots. Just be you,” he said. Shot selection should match a player’s skill set, not just a spreadsheet.

He recalled a game from his Phoenix days against Cleveland when Celtics forward Georges Niang told him to shoot more threes. Durant disagreed. “The dudes around me need to shoot more threes. I’m playing my game.” If the defense collapses, he’ll kick it out. But if the clock is ticking down, the best scorer needs to take charge.

A message for Houston: Let the scorers cook

Durant spelled it out clearly. “When there’s five or six seconds left, give it to your best player,” he said. “If he pulls up from midrange, that’s a good shot.” What teams should avoid is putting the ball in the hands of a role player like Dorian Finney-Smith or Royce O’Neale with two seconds on the clock and hoping for a contested three. That kind of offense is not built to last.

Steve Nash backed the sentiment. The midrange is not outdated. It just needs to be taken by the right players. “It has to come from the right dudes,” Nash said. Role players stretch the floor, but stars break defenses with rhythm, timing, and precision.

After Houston struggled in the halfcourt during their playoff exit against Golden State, Kevin Durant’s mindset offers something new. This is not about looking flashy. It is about trusting instincts, playing smart, and getting the best shot when the moment demands it.