Kevin Durant lashes out after heated Mike Budenholzer exchange

The Phoenix Suns secured a dramatic 119-117 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, outscoring the Californians by 21 points in the final quarter to take the win. However, there were some tough moments during the game for Mike Budenholzer’s team, as shown by the coach’s heated exchange with star man Kevin Durant.

During a timeout early in the game, Budenholzer attempted a handshake of sorts with Durant, who aggressively swung his arm away. The forward initially walked away from his coach before turning to face him, the two seemingly having stern words to say to one another.

After the game, however, Durant played down the incident and hit out at the Suns’ critics, who he believes are trying to disrupt the team.

Durant lashes out at Suns critics

“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 of that specific thing”.

For the 36-year-old, the passionate exchange simply shows both men share the same desire to succeed.

KD: “People don’t understand the dynamics of the relationship”

“C’mon man, that shows me and Bud really care about trying to right this ship and trying to win basketball games. So he understands where I’m coming from, I understand exactly where he’s coming from. It’s just the people on the outside don’t know the dynamics of the relationship“.

“I wish they’d slow-mo when me and him are trying to come to a solution together and we’re smiling on the bench and tapping each other on the chest and slapping hands hard. But when we do that other shit, that gets attention and that’s just the nature of the world we’re in. That’s the nature of content and the NBA in general, so it’s frustrating when you see shit like that.

“I know deep down what it is between Bud and I, and he knows it too, and this ain’t the first time we got into it, not even got into it but had a quick disagreement and moved right on right after the last play. So it’s not gonna be the last either. And Bud knows that, and he knows and respects how much I care, and I respect how much he cares”.

Durant and Budenholzer “like old friends”

Budenholzer also did his bit to make light of the exchange, praising the 15-time All-Star for his leadership skills after the game.

“He and I are like old friends whenever we’re on the spot grabbing and talking to each other. I thought his energy and his voice tonight was great. I think there was some kind of play, offensive play, he wanted something, I wanted something and that’s the beauty of basketball”.

Despite the victory, the Suns have a real fight on their hands to reach the postseason. Their 29-33 regular season record leaves them 11th in the Western Conference standings, three games behind the Dallas Mavericks, who currently occupy the final play-in tournament spot.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.