“KD always showed love,” Seattle Storm rookie Flau’jae Johnson said about NBA icon Kevin Durant on the Bootleg Kev podcast in 2024. In fact, as per Johnson, he even praised her music. So it wasn’t surprising that Durant was in the stands as Johnson helped break Seattle’s two-game losing streak with a historic performance.
A video shared by Shabazz on X showed Durant and Johnson sharing a heartfelt moment after the Storm’s decisive 82-64 win against the Sparks. In the clip, Flau’jae Johnson is seen shaking hands with the Houston Rockets star, sharing a warm hug, and exchanging a few words.
Advertisement
Flau’Jae Johnson ended the night with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, leading the Storm to an 82-64 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. She has now delivered the 2nd most 20-point games by a rookie guard in Storm history, with three such performances this season.
These three 20+ point games also include a career-high 28 points against the New York Liberty, a 24-point showing against the Atlanta Dream, and this 23-point outing against the Sparks.
Right now is second only to the legendary 4x WNBA Champion and all-time assists leader, Sue Bird. The 45-year-old holds the record with seven 20-point games as a Storm rookie guard.
Advertisement
With plenty of games still to play this season, four more 20-point performances would see Flau’jae Johnson draw level with the all-time great. Beyond the personal milestones, however, the bigger priority is helping the Storm build momentum as a team.
They currently sit second last on the league table at 6-17. Their next game is against the Atlanta Dream. Another win like Monday’s would go a long way toward shifting the trajectory of their season.
Flau’jae Johnson Credits Teammates After Historic Night vs. Sparks
Flau’jae Johnson single-handedly scored the first 13 points for the Seattle Storm in their win against the Sparks. However, as brilliant as she was, Johnson is acutely aware that her performance was only possible because of the foundation her teammates laid around her.
Advertisement
Speaking at the postgame press conference, Flau’jae Johnson gave credit to her teammates when asked about how she manages to dominate as a rookie.
“Well, my teammates, you know, great point guard, Jada (Jade Melbourne), she really sets me up and makes things easier for me,” she said.
“I think like when I first came in, she was telling me like you don’t have to make all tough buckets. So, I feel like a lot of my buckets today were pretty easy. Like, you know, they’re collapsing on my teammates and are able to get me very open. So, I just got to hit open shots and be consistent with that.”
Melbourne did have quite the game herself. She finished with 11 points, 4 assists, and 2 rebounds to complement the rookie’s standout showing. In fact, it was really a genuine collective team effort that made the victory possible. And they will be hoping that same collective energy shows up again in their next game against the Dream.
Advertisement
Trending Articles
The post Flau’jae Johnson’s Courtside Interaction With Kevin Durant Draws Attention After She Reaches Historical Milestone vs. Sparks appeared first on EssentiallySports. Add EssentiallySports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
