PHOENIX — A few days after his back-and-forth with former Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, Suns owner Mat Ishbia says he doesn’t regret his posts towards the former player.
Oct 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The exchange began Saturday after Durant responded to an interview Ishbia gave to CNBC Sports, in which the owner said much of the roster construction wasn’t “aligned with his vision” when he first arrived in 2023. Ishbia also said bringing in highly talented players like Durant doesn’t necessarily lead to championships, though he stopped short of directly blaming the former Suns star.
Durant took exception to the comments, saying he was playing at the top of his game. He also took a jab at forward Dillon Brooks, who joined Phoenix in the trade that sent Durant to the Houston Rockets.
Apr 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) against the Phoenix Suns in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Ishbia responded by clarifying that he wasn’t blaming the All-Star and said he was happy with the culture the Suns were building. He also wished Durant luck this season. Durant fired back once more, but Ishbia had no further response at the time.
However, Ishbia revisited the exchange Tuesday after basketball insider Khristina Williams posted a snippet of an interview in which he was asked whether he regretted his tweets about Durant.
Phoenix Mercury and Suns owner Mat Ishbia says he doesn’t regret recent social media frenzy with Kevin Durant. https://t.co/BfmM5zMLKV
— Khristina (@Khristina) October 20, 2026
“Not at all,” Ishbia said in the video. “No, I mean, I don’t know if you saw [the interview], but I said what I said. I think [Durant] misinterpreted it. He just kind of read some headline rather than actually watching the video, and sometimes he does that. And so he misunderstood it, and I figured I’d clarify it for him. But I feel good about what I said about the NBA and how it works.”
While Ishbia stands by his comments, the exchange adds another layer to the growing storyline between the Suns and their former star. Durant has moved on to Houston, while Phoenix is focused on building a team and culture it believes can compete for a championship.
Oct 2, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia (left) and forward Kevin Durant poses for a portrait during media day at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Now, the question is whether the back-and-forth will remain a social media storyline or carry over to the court. When the Suns and Rockets meet this season, all eyes will be on Durant and Ishbia’s former team as tensions continue to rise.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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