Jusuf Nurkić and Mike Budenholzer aren’t in a good place.
The Phoenix Suns center, who lost his starting job earlier this month alongside Bradley Beal, revealed that he went two months without speaking with his head coach. While that’s one thing during an offseason, it’s another in the midst of a season where the two should be communicating regularly.
When Nurkić was benched in a game on Jan. 9 against the Atlanta Hawks, he didn’t hear from Budenholzer about the decision.
“We don’t have a relationship,” Nurkić said on Saturday, via the Arizona Republic. “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.”
Nurkić has not played for the Suns since Jan. 7, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards. He missed some of that stretch due to the flu and missed a team road trip because of it, but he is available to take the court again.
“It’s never easy in this league,” Budenholzer said on Saturday night. “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.”
Nurkić has averaged 8.6 points and 9.2 rebounds this season, his second with the Suns. The 30-year-old is in the third year of a four-year, $70 million deal he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. He started throughout his time in Portland, and actually hasn’t come off the bench since he backed up Nikola Jokić early in his career in Denver.
The Suns, thanks to a 119-109 win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, hold a 23-21 record. That marked their seventh win in their last nine games. They’ll host the Clippers next on Monday.
The Suns have been the subject of plenty of trade rumors in recent weeks, including involving disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. They traded for a series of draft picks, too. Nurkić has been linked to trade talks, though it’s unclear if the Sun will move him before the Feb. 6 deadline.
“It’s hard to understand why [I’m not starting anymore],” Nurkić said. “As you know, I try to do whatever they want from me. I play my role or whatever, but at the end of the day, it’s the NBA. That’s why [Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro] and young guys get to play. It’s always next man up, but I’m just glad I’m not out there for two minutes.
“I know who I am as a person and as a player. Like I said, ‘one door closes, another will open eventually.’ That’s what I’m working for and hoping for.”
