From CBS Sports · · 1m 30s
Kevin Durant misses Mat Ishbia's championship culture point
Durant claims he rebuilt Suns culture after Ishbia's trade for him.
In brief
Durant claims he rebuilt Suns culture after Ishbia's trade for him. Kevin Durant says he brought championship culture to Phoenix Suns despite Mat Ishbia's criticism that adding him didn't lead to championships. Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Ishbia's CNBC comment
Mat Ishbia said bringing super talented players like Kevin Durant doesn't necessarily lead to championships.
“bringing in super talented players like Kevin Durant doesn't necessarily lead to championships”
Durant's social media response
Kevin Durant posted #blameKD after Ishbia's comments on CNBC.
“#blameKD”
Ishbia's full comments
Ishbia said Suns were 8 or 9 seed when he bought the team in February 2023.
“The team was I think the [No.] 8 or 9 seed [in the Western Conference] when I bought the team”
Ishbia's culture shift
Ishbia traded Kevin Durant and brought in new GM and coach to build Suns DNA.
“After that year, I decided [to] trade Kevin Durant, bring in my [own] GM (Brian Gregory replaced James Jones), bring in a new coach (Jordan Ott replaced Mike Budenholzer)”
Suns DNA players
Ishbia named Dillon Brooks, Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie as Suns DNA players.
“It is Dillon Brooks. It is Jordan Goodwin. It is Collin Gillespie”
Suns performance
Suns won 45 games last year without Durant but missed playoffs with him.
“We made the playoffs. Won 45 games. We're going to build on that”
Durant's performance
Kevin Durant stayed on top of his game at 36 with Suns for two and a half seasons.
“Kevin Durant stayed on top of his game at 36”
Suns before Durant
Suns were West's No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in consecutive seasons before Durant.
“In the two and a half seasons before Durant arrived, the Suns were a model franchise that had made the Finals”
Suns after Durant
Suns lost nearly half their games with Durant and missed playoffs twice.
“In the two and a half years with Durant, they lost nearly half their regular-season games”
Ishbia's lesson
Ishbia learned culture and roster depth matter more than superstars for championships.
“We have to define what we're about in Phoenix, and then stick with it”
Durant's claim
Kevin Durant says he brought championship culture to Suns despite Ishbia's criticism.
“Kevin Durant stayed on top of his game at 36 and got u back this 'culture' you love so much”
The one thing
Kevin Durant says he brought championship culture to Phoenix Suns despite Mat Ishbia's criticism that adding him didn't lead to championships.
