Phoenix Suns coach replies to ex-players on his 'up-front' approach with players
It's no surprise to recent NBA retirees DeMarcus Cousins and Lou Williams that Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer abruptly removed Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup and rotation in January.
On Tuesday, the four-time All-Star Cousins and three-time Sixth Man of the Year Williams spoke on FanDuel TV's Run It Back show about Nurkic telling The Arizona Republic that he and Budenholzer "don't have a relationship." Nurkic said the two haven't talked in two months, and "life is not fair" regarding being benched.
Cousins and Williams know firsthand about Budenholzer's unapologetically blunt communication style. Cousins played for him in Milwaukee and William in Atlanta. But Cousins thinks Nurkic let his ego talk too much to the media.
"That's not normal, but at the same time I feel like this is a guy that thinking a little too much of himself,' Cousins said about Nurkic's comments. 'I don't think Phoenix views him as that catalyst of a player, to the point where his feelings or his emotions or his opinion even really matters.'
Nurkic missed six games from the flu between Jan. 12 and 22, but didn't play in five of the six other games he's been available this month.
Cousins said Nurkic (8.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 23 starts this season) was 'foolish' to speak publicly as a Suns role player, saying, "you're not that guy" like their top-paid players Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
As for Budenholzer?
'I can attest to it, though,' Williams said. 'Bud, he's an acquired taste, man. He's gonna be honest with you. He's gonna be upfront. It might hurt your little feelings, it might get under your skin, but you're never in the dark with Bud.'
"Nurkić, just sit back and wait your turn. You're not that guy, bud. You're just not that guy." 👀@BoogieCousins calls out Jusuf Nurkić for not talking to Suns HC Mike Budenholzer.WE'RE LIVE ⬇️https://t.co/CfAwAvgFYZ@MichelleDBeadle | @TeamLou23 | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/oT6hlHoYsz
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 28, 2025
After Phoenix lost to Minnesota on Wednesday, Budenholzer talked again about his "hard" coaching, which he initially explained during his introductory Suns news conference when he was hired in May 2024.
"Ton of respect for both of those guys," Budenholzer said about Cousins and Williams. "I feel honored to have coached them and been around them, learn from them.
"You gotta have hard conversations in the league. You gotta be honest. You gotta coach them hard, try and be transparent. That's the goal. It's not easy but usually that's the right thing to do, and probably in life. So, that's part of coaching hard, yes," Budenholzer added.
Mike Budenholzer said he was 'honored to coach' ex-players Lou Williams and DeMarcus Cousins but 'you gotta have hard conversations in the league.' Williams said on @RunItBackFDTV about Suns' Budenholzer-Nurkic situation 'you're never in the dark' w/ Bud's style, Cousins agreed. pic.twitter.com/eCIJEAnXeC
— DANA (@iam_DanaScott) January 30, 2025
Beal, who also was nixed from the Suns starting lineup but has been having an impact off the bench, said after their 109-99 win at Philadelphia on Jan. 6 that being benched was "a little difficult."
Beal, with the largest contract on the Suns payroll, said he believes "I'm a starter in the league," but that he wasn't going to grovel about the decision.
Budenholzer has told reporters that he communicated with Nurkic, adding, "you've got to earn your minutes."
Beal and Nurkic are both being shopped in trade talks, The Republic has reported.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns coach replies to ex-players on his 'up-front' style, Jusuf Nurkic
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