Phoenix Suns governor Mat Ishbia is straight up saying he doesn’t “have a problem” with Kevin Durant, even after they just had a public social media argument. This whole mess kicked off because Durant clapped back at a recent CNBC Sport interview where Ishbia described acquiring Durant as part of an initial ownership strategy of literally just throwing “money at the problem.” You can’t make this stuff up, right?
The Online Fight That Everyone Noticed
Ishbia totally believes Durant didn’t even watch the full video. He told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, “I know he didn’t watch the video. He might have just read something, and he made a comment.” That initial CNBC interview, Ishbia was talking about how he struggled to establish team culture after buying the Suns in 2023. He even said that without a strong culture, “bringing in super talented players like Kevin Durant doesn’t lead to championships.” Ouch. Durant, who already had some words for the Suns about how his tenure there ended, wasn’t having any of it. He blasted back on social media, claiming the team had “internal problems before I got there.” Talk about throwing shade from the digital sidelines!
Ishbia’s Candid Take on What Went Wrong
Expanding on his comments with Windhorst, Ishbia dove deeper into his team’s “identity.” He admitted, “I didn’t do a good job at the beginning when I was an owner. I just kind of put money in and said, ‘Let’s go do it.’ Now I have an identity, alignment all the way through, and we’re going to go build.” That’s a huge confession from an owner, showing he learned a tough lesson. He even added, “Will that work? We’re going to find out. But I know the other way didn’t work, for sure.” And the numbers back him up a bit. In Durant’s two full seasons with the franchise, the Suns went 85-79 and only made one postseason appearance, getting swept from the 2024 first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ishbia wrapped it up pretty firmly, saying, “I don’t have a problem with anything he said. But I’m going to make sure… I go out there and say what I believe as well.” You gotta respect an owner willing to stand his ground.
Durant was ultimately traded to the Houston Rockets in July 2025 after two and a half seasons in Phoenix. He inked a two-year extension with the Rockets last October and he’s ready to tip off his first season of that extension this Wednesday night. Get ready to watch him and the Rockets open against Cooper Flagg and the visiting Dallas Mavericks. You know he’s gonna be playing with a chip on his shoulder after all this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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