"I threw money at Durant!" Suns owner takes aim at NBA superstar, KD fires back: "Go back to your culture"

Pulse Sports Team 23:48 - 18 October 2026

Former Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant and franchise owner Mat Ishbia engaged in a heated exchange on social media.

Phoenix Suns majority owner Mat Ishbia admitted he went on a spending spree when he took over the franchise, citing the blockbuster acquisition of Kevin Durant as prime evidence.

Ishbia noted that while Durant is an elite talent, having superstars does not guarantee an NBA championship, adding that the Suns are now taking a completely different approach to roster construction.

The Suns owner shared his thoughts during an interview with CNBC Sports, explaining that he initially believed he could buy the best players and secure a title in short order.

"I solved problems with money. We didn't have a clear structure, team culture, or a North Star to guide where we were going. So we threw money around and brought in high-end talent like Kevin Durant—but that doesn't guarantee you a ring. You have to find players who fit your team, your vision, work ethic, and attitude, guys who truly care about winning and put in the work every single day. That's what we're looking for in Phoenix now. Whether it's Durant or someone else, it makes no difference; we're after a specific type of player." - Mat Ishbia

It did not take long for the former Suns forward, now with the Houston Rockets, to hit back.

"Yeah, that's right, blame me for everything even though I'm still at the top of the game at 36 years old. Feel free to go back to that culture you value so much. Matthew is acting like I got arrested for a DUI." - Kevin Durant

As a reminder, Durant was traded to Phoenix in February 2023 and spent two and a half seasons there. The Suns reached the Western Conference Semifinals in his first year, suffered a first-round playoff exit the next, and missed the Play-In Tournament the following season...

That prompted his subsequent move to the Houston Rockets.

Video: Pavlovic, Krstic, and Vlada Radmanovic discuss: Will Jokic lead Denver to a championship this season?