Jusuf Nurkic Scolded by Kevin Durant for Missing an Open Pass During…

In a fiery moment during the Phoenix Suns’ recent victory over the Dallas Mavericks, center Jusuf Nurkic found himself on the receiving end of a verbal scolding from none other than Suns star Kevin Durant. The incident occurred in the second half of the game, where the Suns were pushing for an important win in the Western Conference standings. Despite the team’s eventual 118-110 win, the exchange between Nurkic and Durant became the focal point of post-game discussions.

The drama unfolded late in the third quarter, as Phoenix was attempting to extend their lead with a fast break. Durant, who had been playing an efficient and dominant game, was pushing the ball upcourt when he spotted Nurkic in a prime position near the basket. As Durant was double-teamed by Mavericks defenders, he fired a perfect pass to Nurkic, who was wide open for a potential easy bucket. However, Nurkic failed to secure the ball cleanly, fumbling the pass and letting the opportunity slip through his fingers.

The play was a rare misstep for the Suns, who had been performing well offensively up until that point. What followed, however, was a memorable moment of frustration from Durant, who was visibly upset with his teammate. As Nurkic gathered himself, Durant stormed over to him, shaking his head in disbelief and offering a stern verbal reprimand. Cameras caught Durant saying, “You gotta catch that, man! We’re trying to win here!”

The tension was palpable, with Durant’s tone making it clear that he expected a higher level of focus from his teammates, especially on such an easy scoring chance. Nurkic, known for his typically calm and composed demeanor, nodded in acknowledgment of Durant’s frustration but appeared to take the criticism in stride.

After the game, Durant addressed the incident in his post-game interview, downplaying any notion of discord between him and Nurkic but reiterating his belief in the importance of execution in high-pressure moments. “I’m just trying to hold everyone accountable,” Durant said. “We can’t afford to miss those kinds of opportunities, especially with how tight the game was. But Jusuf is a great player, and he’ll bounce back from that.”

Nurkic, for his part, expressed no hard feelings toward Durant. “Kevin’s a winner, and he wants us all to be the best version of ourselves,” Nurkic said. “I messed up, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’s just part of the game.”

Despite the minor altercation, the Suns went on to secure the victory, with Durant finishing with 30 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Nurkic himself played a solid game, contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds, though the missed pass remained a point of contention. Suns head coach Frank Vogel praised his team’s resilience, noting that the competitive fire between Durant and Nurkic was a sign of the team’s commitment to improving and holding each other to a high standard.

The incident served as a reminder that even in the midst of a team’s success, the drive for perfection is always present. With the Suns looking to build chemistry and solidify their playoff positioning, moments like these—though rare—highlight the intensity and the high expectations within the locker room. As for Nurkic, he will likely use the scolding as motivation to improve his game and ensure that such a missed opportunity does not happen again.

The Suns will next face the Portland Trail Blazers, where they’ll look to extend their winning streak, with both Durant and Nurkic expected to be central to their chances of success.