Jusuf Nurkic joined the Phoenix Suns on September 27, 2023, as part of a three-team trade. In his debut season with the Suns, he played 76 games and averaged 10.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Despite having played one season and being part of the ongoing 2024-25 NBA season, his relationship with head coach Mike Budenholzer has not been good.
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Wizards, Nurkic participated in an interview with Duane Rankin from the Arizona Republic. During the conversation, he candidly expressed that he does not have any personal relationship with Coach Mike Budenholzer.
“We don’t have a relationship. So, it’s fine. For me, just be a pro and do the best I can. Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have plenty of it. Trying to be as professional as I can and work my ass off for something else,” Nurkic said.
Jusuf Nurkic says he doesn’t have a relationship with Mike Budenholzer
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 26, 2025
“We don’t have a relationship. So, it’s fine. For me, just be a pro and do the best I can. Work and stay ready for whatever might be, but there is no chaos or bringing that to this team. They already have… pic.twitter.com/QtFaShdw0I
Nurkic acknowledged that he and Budenholzer had not communicated for two months. This observation corresponds with his previous remarks indicating that Budenholzer neglected to notify him regarding the decision to bench him on January 9 in the match against the Atlanta Hawks.
Mike Budenholzer Reacts To Jusuf Nurkic’s Statement About Their Relationship
The Phoenix Suns have recently climbed to the 8th spot in the standings after a 119-109 victory against the Wizards. They currently have a record of 23 wins and 21 losses in the 2024-25 NBA regular season. However, in order to move higher in the rankings, the atmosphere in the locker room must remain positive. During the recent post-game press conference, Budenholzer addressed Nurkic’s comment about no relationship with him.
“It’s never easy in this league. He hasn’t played. I’m sure he’s frustrated. I respect that. There’s been conversations that have been had. There’s been communication, but we’ve got three or four guys that play the same position. We’re going to go with who we think gives us our best chance. You’ve got to earn your minutes. And that’s been communicated,” Budenholzer said.
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Suns coach Mike Budenholzer addressed his relationship with Jusuf Nurkic, saying he understands the frustration with him, but there has been "conversations." #Suns pic.twitter.com/IJlp4tyfaL
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 26, 2025
Nurkic has played in 25 games for the Suns during the 2024-25 NBA regular season. At this point, he is averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per contest. The Suns are set to compete against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Footprint Center.
