Since the trade deadline, the rumor mill has been working at full speed over Kevin Durant’s future with the Phoenix Suns. In recent days, speculations of a rift between the star forward and head coach Mike Budenholzer have also been making rounds.
Their relationship seemed to reach a tipping point during their March 4 game against the Los Angeles Clippers when Durant and Budenholzer appeared to have a tense exchange on the court.
However, the two-time NBA champion downplayed the exchange after leading the Suns to its largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history.
Kevin Durant Downplays ‘Stupid’ Exchange With Mike Budenholzer
In footage shared by TNT from the Suns vs. Clippers game, Durant appeared to be angry with Budenholzer after the head coach took a timeout early in the first quarter. When Budenholzer tried to talk, Durant yanked away his arm before coming back and angrily saying some words to the Suns head coach.
Here's the exchange between KD and Coach Bud.
Bud grabs KD's arm.. and KD pulls it away.
What a terrible look for this team. @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/4lnwOZ97yk— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) March 5, 2025
The 15-time NBA All-Star addressed the heated confrontation during the postgame interview after leading the Suns to a 119-117 win, suggesting that everything was good between the two.
“That’s what happens when you don’t know the dynamics of the relationship,” Durant said. “You catch something on TV and you get a quote and then 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 sometimes my way ain’t the way that Bud wants to do it and vice versa and 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’d never have stuff like that.”
Following the exchange, the Suns trailed 65-49 at halftime, with Durant only managing eight points. However, he was at his relentless best in the second half and helped Phoenix overcome a 19-point deficit going into the fourth quarter, the largest in the franchise’s history.
Durant finished off the night with 34 points on 10-for-22 shooting, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, and two blocks.
“I’m glad that the win is going to sweep all that stupid stuff under the rug because people couldn’t wait, even some people in Phoenix in here couldn’t wait to run with that and say this is the reason the team ain’t playing well because that specific thing,” Durant added.
Kevin Durant on his exchange with Bud that was caught on TV:
"If we both didn't care, we would never have stuff like that. I'm glad that the win is gonna sweep all of that stupid stuff under the rug cuz some people in Phoenix couldn't wait to run with that" pic.twitter.com/lJmZ0797Wu
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) March 5, 2025
The Suns improved their record to 29-33 with the win and are standing 11th in the Western Conference. They were trailing the Dallas Mavericks by 3.5 games for the West’s final play-in slot at press time, and with the Mavs losing Kyrie Irving to a season-ending injury, Phoenix’s playoff hopes are very much alive.