Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer downplayed their heated exchange during Tuesday’s 119-117 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Durant and Budenholzer engaged in an animated argument in the first quarter, but the former insisted postgame that all was fine and called out the media.
“That’s what usually happens when you don’t know the dynamics of a relationship,” Durant said. “You catch something on TV, you get a quote, and now you pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don’t do that s*** all the time.
“We competitive as two individuals who want to see things done the right way, and sometimes my way ain’t the way that Bud want to do it and vice versa,” Durant stated. “He allows me as a player on the team, a veteran on the team, to voice my opinion. If we both didn’t care, we would never have stuff like that.
“So, I’m glad that the win is going to sweep all of that stupid stuff under the rug because people couldn’t wait,” Durant added. “Even some people in Phoenix, in here, couldn’t wait to run with that and say, ‘This is the reason why the team ain’t playing well, because of that specific thing.’ But come on man, that shows that me and Bud really care about trying to right this ship and trying to win basketball games.”
Durant, who had 34 points (10-22 FG), seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks against the Clippers, is on point there. Had the Suns lost, everyone would have been pointing to their faltering relationship as the reason for the team’s struggles.
Defeat seemed almost inevitable, too, as the Suns were down by as many as 23 points in the third quarter. The Clippers led 95-76 entering the fourth and looked set to end their losing streak, only for Durant to take over. The 36-year-old scored 19 points in the fourth to power the Suns to an unlikely win.
Even with the Suns winning, though, that exchange has been a big talking point, much to Durant’s annoyance. The 15-time All-Star wishes that the cameras also caught all the positive interactions he had with Budenholzer.
“I wish they cut to that and slow-mo that, when me and him come to a solution together and we’re smiling on the bench and we’re tapping each other on the chest and slapping hands hard,” Durant stated. “I wish they would post that on Instagram and Twitter and say, ‘Wow, this is leadership right here.”
A camera did catch Durant and Budenholzer coming together after that heated exchange. All seemed well at the end, with the head coach tapping the star on the chest before walking away.
🚨MUST SEE🚨Here's the FULL VIDEO exchange with Kevin Durant and Mike Budenholzer…
Bud grabs KD arm.. KD pulls it away… what the broadcast DID NOT show you — after the TV timeout, our camera caught KD tapping Bud to talk. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/9tyWmcm1G1
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 5, 2025
Durant bemoaned that it’s always the negative angle that gets the attention. He made it clear there would be more tense exchanges between him and Budenholzer but added that it doesn’t mean they have a problem with each other. The Suns’ head coach also stated postgame that all was well.
“He and I are like old friends or whatever, we’re always probably grabbing and talking to each other,” Budenholzer said. “I thought actually his energy and his voice tonight was great. I think there was some kind of offensive play. He wanted something, I wanted something, and it’s the beauty of basketball.”
We’ll take their word for it. This is the second time in a matter of days, though, that a Suns star has had to come out and declare that they had no issues with the head coach. Devin Booker shut down rumors of a fractured relationship with Budenholzer before Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With how much the Suns have struggled this season, it isn’t surprising that such rumors have been flying around. After this win over the Clippers, they now have a 29-33 record this season and will be in action next against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Friday at 10 PM ET.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
