Kevin Durant Reacts to Tense Moment Between He & Mike Budenholzer

Kevin Durant has spoken honestly about the moment between he and Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer that was caught on camera in the Phoenix vs. LAC game.

TNT cameras captured KD and coach Bud in a heated exchange during a first-quarter timeout where Budenholzer grabbed Durant’s forearm to keep talking, but Durant pulled away to the bench before turning back and jawing at the coach.

Kevin Durant and Mike Budenholzer exchange words. 👀

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 5, 2025

Of course, NBA media has an absolute field day with this, considering the recent reports about Budenholzer’s relationship with Devin Booker and the KD trade rumors.

But Durant wasn’t having it.

“That’s what usually happens when you don’t know dynamics of the relationship,” Durant. “You catch something on TV, you get a quote and now you pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don’t do that sh*t all the time. We [are] 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.

“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, you know what I’m saying? So I’m glad that the win is going to sweep all of 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 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.”

Coach Bud was in agreeance with Durant after the game and put the moment into perspective.

“We’re like old friends or whatever where 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 [else] and it’s the beauty of basketball. But really from that moment, his voice and him talking — feedback, ideas, suggestions — was really I think a big part of the night.”

KD scored 19 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter to propel the Suns to 119-117 win and come back from 20 points down.

Say what you will about the Suns, but Durant is trying his ass off out there.

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