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[Saba Sports News] Kevin Durant had a brief exchange with Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer during Tuesday night’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, but the 15-time All-Star was quick to brush off the incident.
The moment occurred during a first-quarter timeout when the Clippers were leading 19-15. Durant and Budenholzer were seen exchanging words, and as Budenholzer appeared to grab Durant’s arm to continue the discussion, Durant pulled away and walked past him.
After the game, Durant was asked about the heated exchange and immediately dismissed it, criticizing the media for making a big deal out of nothing.
“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’re pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don’t do that s– all the time.”
Durant emphasized that their conversation was simply two competitive individuals trying to get things right.
“Sometimes my way ain’t the way that Bud wants to do it and vice versa. He allows me as a veteran on the team to voice my opinion. If we both didn’t care, we wouldn’t have moments like that.”
Durant also took aim at critics who linked the exchange to Phoenix’s struggles, saying, “People couldn’t wait—some even here in Phoenix—to say, ‘Oh, this is why the team isn’t playing well.’ That just shows me and Bud care about winning basketball games.”
Former NBA coach and TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy also downplayed the incident, saying he had countless similar confrontations with players and that it was simply a sign of competitiveness.
Durant’s frustration likely stems from the Suns’ recent struggles—they had lost 11 of their last 14 games before Tuesday’s 119-117 win over the Clippers. Reports have also surfaced suggesting Durant is unhappy in Phoenix, further fueling speculation around his interaction with Budenholzer.