The Phoenix Suns are struggling to find consistency this season, currently sitting outside the play-in tournament picture. One of the biggest concerns has been the team’s mismanagement of its roster, and to add to the turmoil, star forward Kevin Durant recently had a heated exchange with head coach Mike Budenholzer. The situation quickly caught the attention of Draymond Green, Durant’s former Golden State Warriors teammate, who shared his thoughts on the matter.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show alongside Baron Davis, Green downplayed the notion that Durant is prone to clashing with NBA coaches, suggesting the incident could be a sign of mounting frustration in Phoenix.
“One thing I can assure you is KD isn’t a coach arguer,” Green said. “Every now and then, he’s going to stand his ground, of course, but he’s not just going to get into it with the coach. He’s not a player who thinks he’s bigger than a coach—none of that. What I know for certain is they had their moment, and they’re moving on. If KD could just play the game and focus solely on basketball, he’d play for another 10 years.”
Green, who spent three seasons alongside Durant in Golden State, understands the forward’s temperament better than most. His comments suggest that the Suns’ internal struggles are more about performance pressure than any lingering tension between Durant and Budenholzer. With Phoenix needing a late-season push to reach the postseason, keeping the locker room in sync will be crucial. If not, speculation about Durant’s future with the franchise could gain traction heading into the offseason.
Kevin Durant and Draymond Green playing with the Golden State Warriors on April 02, 2019.
Kevin Durant addresses coaching clash
Amid growing narratives surrounding his sideline dispute with Budenholzer, Durant himself addressed the situation, dismissing the idea that there’s any lingering rift between them. Speaking to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin, Durant described the exchange as a natural display of passion between two individuals determined to turn the team’s fortunes around.
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“If we both didn’t care, we’d never have stuff like that,” Durant explained. “The wins are going to sweep all that stupid stuff under the rug because people couldn’t wait to run with that and say, ‘This is the reason why the team isn’t playing well.’ That just shows that me and Bud really care about righting the ship and trying to win basketball games.”
“He understands where I’m coming from, and I understand exactly where he’s coming from. It’s just people outside who don’t understand the dynamic of the relationship. In order for them to get some attention, they’re going to roll with stuff like that.”
With the Suns fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, Durant and Budenholzer will need to stay aligned in their vision. Whether this moment strengthens the team or signals deeper issues remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Phoenix needs answers fast.
