Every coach wants a “coach on the court”, a player who leads by example, directs traffic, and holds teammates accountable. But apparently, there’s a limit to how much leadership some coaches actually want. Kevin Garnett isn’t one to stay silent when he sees something off. And when a report by Chris Haynes surfaced, suggesting that Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer pulled Devin Booker aside to tell him to ‘dial it back,’ the Hall of Famer’s reaction was instant outrage. A guy who built his entire legacy on intensity, leadership, and holding teammates accountable? Yeah, this one hit a nerve.
Devin Booker has spent nearly a decade with the Phoenix Suns as the team’s vocal leader. He has consistently stepped up as the primary voice in the locker room. So when Chris Haynes’ report surfaced right after Booker called for more communication following the Suns’ loss to the Pelicans, it raised some eyebrows. “It can be fixed with just a little more talking I’d say,” Booker noted after the game. But now, with reports claiming that coach Mike Budenholzer actually asked Booker to be less vocal, the irony is hard to ignore. According to Haynes, Booker was “shocked” by the request, as Budenholzer feared his voice was overshadowing the coaching staff’s message. And that’s where Kevin Garnett lost it and surely enough, he is not letting this slide. Now that it’s on HOOPER’s Instagram post, the real question is, how will this affect the Suns’ chemistry moving forward? Because no teams would want a mixed signals on leadership.
Kevin Garnett didn’t hold back. The NBA legend took to his Instagram story, sharing HOOPER’s post and calling out the Suns for what he saw as pure absurdity. Clearly stunned by the situation, he wrote: “Huh? Gtfoh…THIS IS WHAT’S WRONG IN PHX” Garnett himself never hesitated to fire up his teammates, call out defensive assignments, and set the tone on the court. To him, this is something unheard of, seeing a coach ask a star player to dial it down. Garnett followed up with another message, doubling down on his disbelief: “ain’t never heard a coach saying anything close to this!! Tf going on”
Dec 19, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
With Booker leading the charge and the Suns securing a convincing 125-108 win over the Pelicans, all seems well for now. Budenholzer addressed Haynes’s report post-game, choosing his words carefully. “Devin and I have lots of conversations, I think it’s super healthy. Devin’s awesome, and his communication is awesome, his style is great.” While he didn’t outright deny the report, he did add, “He’s very vocal, and that’s a good thing.”
So, what Garnett thinks is this just a misunderstanding, or is there more beneath the surface waiting to unravel? Time will surely tell.
Kevin Garnett believes Suns’ Big 3 Experiment a bust, calls for a roster shake-up
This isn’t the first time Garnett has been critical of the Suns’ approach. Just last month on the KG Certified Podcast, he questioned whether the Suns’ ‘Big 3’ experiment with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal could actually work in the long run. He believes that the team needs a serious makeover. “I think Phoenix needs a makeover,” Garnett asserted. “I think the experiment is over. You’ve got three players playing the same way that need the same thing. They need space.”
Garnett’s frustration is fair. He believes that stacking talent isn’t enough if players don’t have the freedom to flourish in distinct roles. Without room to operate, even a trio of stars can end up suffocating one another on the court. According to Garnett, if the Suns face yet another early postseason exit, significant changes might be inevitable.
Potentially even moving Kevin Durant in the offseason. And let me break it up to you, he isn’t alone in his prediction. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, reinforced the notion that change is in the air. “He’s probably going to get traded this summer. He knows it, the Suns know it, the rest of the league knows it,” Windhorst said. Windhorst said, hinting at a possible shake-up that could redefine the team’s future.
With tension brewing in Phoenix, the question remains: Is Devin Booker’s vocal leadership a problem, or is it exactly what the Suns need to succeed? Will Kevin Garnett’s criticism ignite further discussions, or will the Suns prove that their approach works in the long run? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The post “GTFOH”: Fired-Up Kevin Garnett Demands Accountability from Mike Budenholzer For Undermining Devin Booker appeared first on EssentiallySports.
