Home / Sports / Durant Mocks Suns Owner Ishbia's 'Mistake' Comment
Durant Mocks Suns Owner Ishbia's 'Mistake' Comment
18 Oct
Summary
- Owner Mat Ishbia admitted acquiring Kevin Durant was a mistake.
- Kevin Durant sarcastically responded to Ishbia's comments on X.
- The Suns traded Durant to Houston in July 2025 for players and picks.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia recently expressed that the acquisition of Kevin Durant was a strategic error, a sentiment Durant himself addressed with a sarcastic social media post. Ishbia, who purchased a majority stake in the team in February 2023, stated he made the decision to trade Durant in July 2025.
The Suns originally acquired Durant from the Nets in a significant trade during the 2023 deadline. Durant averaged 26.8 points per game over his time with Phoenix, but the team only secured one playoff series victory and missed the postseason entirely in 2025.
Ishbia admitted he "threw money at the problem" initially, aiming for a championship. However, after the team's performance didn't align with his vision, he became personally involved in shaping the organization's "Suns DNA" with a focus on player character both on and off the court.
Following the trade, Durant joined the Houston Rockets. The Suns, meanwhile, finished the 2025 season with a 45-37 record, advancing through the play-in tournament before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
