Mat Ishbia admits lavish spending brought Durant — Kevin Durant fires back
Ishbia admits he spent freely after buying the Suns and says Phoenix is now targeting players who fit a specific profile; Durant answered immediately.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has acknowledged that he spent freely after buying the franchise, and singled out the signing of Kevin Durant as the clearest example of that approach.
Ishbia: money alone won't deliver a championship
In an interview with CNBC Sports Ishbia said the team’s early strategy relied on spending to assemble talent quickly, but that approach did not produce the results he expected. "I solved problems with money. We didn’t have a defined structure, a team culture, or a lead star to point us in the right direction. That’s why we threw money and brought in talented players like Kevin Durant, but they don’t guarantee a title," he said.
Ishbia added that Phoenix is now prioritizing players who fit a specific profile: those who match the club’s vision, work ethic and daily commitment to winning. "You have to find players who fit your team, your vision, work ethic and attitude, players who care about winning and grind every day. That’s what we’re looking for in Phoenix right now. Whether it’s Durant or someone else doesn’t matter. We’re interested in a particular player profile," he said.
Durant — who was traded to Phoenix in February 2023 and spent two and a half seasons with the Suns — responded quickly. "Yes, that’s right, blame me for everything, even though at 36 I’m still among the best in basketball. And you can go back to that culture you so cherish. Matthew treated me like I was arrested for drunk driving," Durant wrote.
During his time in Phoenix Durant reached one Western Conference final; the following season the Suns were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, and in the next campaign the club failed to reach the play-in tournament. Durant later joined the Houston Rockets.
Both Ishbia’s admission and Durant’s retort have reignited discussion about team-building philosophy in the NBA — whether salaries and star acquisitions are enough, or whether long-term culture and roster fit are decisive.
Photo: KNAWTNINE (X)
