Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer were spotted having a heated argument during their team's game against the LA Clippers on Tuesday. That argument seemed to spark something, as the Suns rallied in the fourth quarter for a much-needed victory.
Postgame, Durant said the argument came from him and Budenholzer both being competitors who want to win.
"If we both didn’t care, we would never have stuff like that. You know what I’m saying? And I’m glad that the win is going to sweep 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, 'Oh, this is the reason why the team ain’t playing well, because of that specific thing.'" Durant said.
"But come on man. That shows that me and Bud really care about trying to … win basketball games. So he understands where I’m coming from. I understand exactly where he is coming from. It’s just people on the outside don’t know the dynamics of the relationship. So in order for them to get some attention, they’re going to run with stuff like that."
Budenholzer backed his star forward with his comments on the confrontation.
"You know, he and I are like old friends or whatever," Budenholzer said. "We’re always probably grabbing and talking to each other. So 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. But I think as the game, really from that moment, his voice and him talking, feedback, ideas, suggestions, it was really, I think, a big part of the night."