Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer have a dynamic that thrives on passion, intensity, and a shared commitment to winning. So, when TNT cameras caught Durant pulling his arm away from Budenholzer during a timeout in the first quarter of Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, it sparked a media frenzy. But according to Durant, this kind of fiery exchange is just another day at the office for the two competitors.
“That’s what usually happens when you don’t know the dynamics of the relationship,” Durant said postgame. “You catch something on TV, get a quote, and now you’re pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don’t do that (expletive) all the time. We’re competitive as two individuals who want to see things done the right way.”
And what a game it was! The Suns pulled off an electrifying 119-117 comeback victory after trailing by as many as 23 points, marking the largest comeback in franchise history heading into the fourth quarter. Durant played a pivotal role, dropping 34 points, with 19 coming in a spectacular fourth-quarter performance.
Yet, much of the postgame chatter revolved around that first-quarter interaction with Budenholzer. The scene unfolded as Durant was heading to the bench, and Budenholzer reached out to him. Instead of engaging, Durant yanked his arm away and barked something back at his coach. It was a moment that set social media ablaze, but for Durant and Budenholzer, it was business as usual.
Budenholzer, unfazed by the speculation, dismissed the incident as part of their natural communication. “He and I are like old friends or whatever,” Budenholzer said after the game. “We’re always probably grabbing and talking to each other. I thought actually his energy, his voice tonight was great.”
Stephanie Ready, TNT’s sideline reporter, noted that the brief exchange stemmed from a miscommunication on an offensive set. Budenholzer elaborated on this, saying, “He wanted something, I wanted something. That’s the beauty of basketball. But from that moment on, his voice, his feedback, ideas, suggestions—that was a big part of the night.”
Durant’s passion was evident throughout the game, and he wasn’t afraid to address the narrative postgame. “Sometimes my way ain’t the way Bud wants to do it and vice versa,” he said. “He allows me, as a veteran on the team, to voice my opinion. If we both didn’t care, we wouldn’t have stuff like that. I’m glad that a win is going to sweep all that stupid stuff under the rug because people couldn’t wait—even some people here in Phoenix—couldn’t wait to run with that and say, ‘This is the reason why the team isn’t playing well.’ But come on, man.”
Durant’s frustration with the media’s portrayal of these moments was clear. “I wish they’d slow-mo the times when me and him come to a solution together, when we’re smiling on the bench, tapping each other on the chest, slapping hands hard. I wish they’d post that on Instagram and Twitter and say, ‘Wow, this is leadership right here.’ But when we do that other (expletive), that gets the attention. That’s just the nature of the world we’re in and the nature of content in the NBA.”
Despite the noise, both Durant and Budenholzer know this won’t be the last time they have a heated exchange. The Suns embark on a four-game road trip beginning Friday against the Denver Nuggets, and the stakes remain high.
“It’s frustrating when you see (expletive) like that and the reaction to it,” Durant said. “But I know deep down what it is between Bud and me, and he knows it too. This ain’t the first time we’ve had a quick disagreement and moved on right after the next play, and it’s not going to be the last either. Bud knows that, and he respects how much I care, and I respect how much he cares.”
Budenholzer, in his first season as Phoenix’s head coach, has faced his fair share of scrutiny, and Durant has had multiple in-game discussions with him throughout the season. But the coach sees these interactions as a natural part of working with elite talent.
“When you have great players, guys that know the game and think the game, it’s the beauty of coaching in this league,” Budenholzer said. “Learning from players. These guys are teaching us all the time. I know it’s supposed to be the other way around, but it’s all healthy, it’s all good.”
At the end of the day, the Suns’ thrilling victory over the Clippers should be the real story. A historic comeback, Durant’s dominant performance, and the undeniable chemistry—however fiery—between him and his coach are what truly define this team. The Suns aren’t just playing basketball; they’re battling, adjusting, and figuring things out in real-time. And that, more than any sideline dispute, is what makes them a team to watch.
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