Durant and Suns owner Ishbia clash over Phoenix's direction

Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia have exchanged public responses after Ishbia said bringing in a player of Durant’s calibre was not enough to deliver a championship. Durant objected to the comments, but Ishbia said his point was about how Phoenix builds its team, not a criticism of Durant’s performance.

Speaking on CNBC, Ishbia reflected on the Suns’ decision to acquire Durant shortly after his purchase of the team became official in February 2023. He said the move was “not aligned with my vision” and that the approach had not succeeded during Durant’s time in Phoenix.

Durant responds to Ishbia’s comments

Durant posted “#blameKD” on social media and defended his contribution to the Suns, saying he had remained at the top of his game at 36. He also challenged Ishbia’s account of the team’s culture.

Ishbia replied that Durant had not watched the full clip. “Didn’t blame you @Kdtrey5, but am happy with the culture we are building here in Phoenix,” he wrote, adding that the Suns were excited for the season. He wished Durant luck in Houston.

Durant responded again, saying Ishbia should be thanking him and, “You don’t have to pay me an absurd amount of money to play for another team.” The exchange followed Ishbia’s broader account of what he believed had gone wrong in Phoenix.

Ishbia points to a change in approach

Ishbia said he had initially authorised the team to spend what it took to pursue a title. Looking back, he said he had not first established a clear direction for the organisation: “I kind of just threw money at the problem.”

After trading Durant, Ishbia appointed Brian Gregory as general manager in place of James Jones and Jordan Ott as coach in place of Mike Budenholzer. He said he had also become more personally involved in deciding what the Suns wanted from players on and off the court.

Ishbia described that approach as “Suns DNA”, naming Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie and Devin Booker among the players who fit it. He stressed that his comments were not intended as a judgement on whether Durant did or did not fit that description.

What comes next for Phoenix

Ishbia said the Suns won 45 games and made the playoffs last season after many expected them to struggle. They had won 36 games and missed the playoffs the season before.

His stated aim now is to build on that improvement while sticking to a defined vision. As he put it, “bringing in super-talented players like Kevin Durant doesn’t necessarily lead to championships.”