Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic has gone from being an established NBA starting center for essentially nine seasons to losing his starting job and not playing, all in a matter of days.
Reflecting on his current situation before Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards, Nurkic said, “One door close, another will open eventually, sooner or later.”
Nurkic has been the focus of trade talks as sources have informed The Arizona Republic the Suns have been trying to move him. Nurkic believes he’ll still be with the team after the Feb. 6 trade deadline, but he won’t be surprised if the Suns trade him.
“Yeah, for sure,” he said when asked if he believes he’ll be with the Suns after the trade deadline. “Because we are the Phoenix Suns and new (collective bargaining agreement) and all the rules, it’s not easy to get traded when you’re over the second tax apron. Even that, I can’t control.”
Nurkic said he’s prepared for a trade if it happens. Nurkic is in the third year of a four-year, $70-million deal he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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“It was what it is,” Nurkic continued. “Life is not fair.”
Nurkic said he and Suns coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t talk for two months. This is consistent with him saying Budenholzer didn’t inform him about a decision not to play him Jan. 9 against Atlanta.
Nurkic also didn’t see action in the next home game Jan. 11 versus Utah.
“We don’t have a relationship,” Nurkic said. “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.”
Budenholzer addressed Nurkic’s ‘relationship’ comments after the game.
“It’s never easy in this league,” Budenholzer said. “He hasn’t played. I’m sure he’s frustrated. I respect that.”
When pressed about the situation, Budenholzer said, “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.”
Nurkic is available to play after missing four games with the flu and working his way back through “return to competition reconditioning” as listed on the Suns injury report the last two games.
“I feel good, I feel better now,” Nurkic said. “It was just a bad flu. Then it was too late to catch the plane.”
Nurkic wasn’t with the team during the five-game road trip that began Jan. 14 at Atlanta. He sat out his first game listed with the flu Jan. 12 at home against Charlotte.
Budenholzer replaced Nurkic in the starting lineup for Mason Plumlee when Phoenix played at Philadelphia on Jan. 6. Nurkic had last come off the bench in his third NBA season in 2016-17 while with the Denver Nuggets, who then turned to now three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to start at center.
“It’s hard to understand why,” Nurkic said about not starting after having done so for so many seasons. “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.”
Nurkic added, “I know who I am as a person and as a player. Like I said, ‘one door close, another will open eventually.’ That’s what I’m working for and hoping for.”
The Suns now have Nick Richards starting at center after trading Josh Okogie and three second-round picks to Charlotte on Jan. 15 for the 7-footer out of Kentucky and a second-round selection.
“I’m glad Bud find somebody who he like he can play,” Nurkic said. “I think that’s refreshing for him to rotate four centers. I think that’s something that’s sustainable and that’s the NBA. I have nothing against Nick. Any way I can help, but I’m glad they found someone who they want to play.”
Budenholzer has talked about liking four bigs in Richards, Plumlee, Ighodaro and Nurkic, but looking at how things have unfolded, the odds appear against Nurkic playing.
Plumlee was the first big off the bench for Richards in Saturday’s game. Nurkic didn’t play in Phoenix’s 119-109 win over the Wizards.
“You get opportunities in the NBA,” said Budenholzer after Friday’s practice as he said players can ‘earn minutes’ in practice. “That usually how it works. Something happens. You’ve got to take advantage of your opportunities.”
The Suns acquired Nurkic in a three-team deal before training camp of the 2023-24 season in a deal that sent Deandre Ayton to Portland and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee. Nurkic started all 76 games he played his first season with the Suns as he averaged 10.9 points and 11 rebounds.
He came into this season slimmer and looking to be a 3-point threat under Budenholzer, who replaced a fired one-and-done Frank Vogel.
Budenholzer visited Nurkic in Croatia in the offseason in looking to build a solid relationship.
“A lot of times, my teammates be saying, I’m coming, I’m coming,” Nurkic said back in October of last year. “Then when they come, they be like, ‘Oh wow, this is really great.’”
Nurkic praised Budenholzer for holding players accountable.
“That’s the No. 1 thing I noticed about him that’s different from any coach in my career,” Nurkic said in October. “I’ve had a lot of them. I was really amazed he got over and spent a few days with me.”
The Suns started the season 8-1, but Nurkic missed 10 of his first 11 shots from 3. He never really found a consistent rhythm on offense and had his share of defensive struggles.
He was then removed from the starting lineup Jan. 6. Budenholzer also removed Bradley Beal for rookie Ryan Dunn the same game against the 76ers as the Suns head coach talked about finding certain combinations factored into the decision.
Nurkic played against the 76ers and Charlotte Hornets in a second of a back-to-back Jan. 7 to end a three-game road trip. The Hornets ravaged the Suns with 20 offensive rebounds in an upset win with Richards posting a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds with five coming on the offensive boards.
Nurkic hasn’t played since.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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Jusuf Nurkic, the center for the Portland Trail Blazers, recently made headlines when he stated that he does not have a relationship with Mike Budenholzer, the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. This statement came as a surprise to many, as Nurkic and Budenholzer have never played together or been involved in any known conflicts.
Nurkic’s comments were made during a recent interview with a sports media outlet, where he was asked about his thoughts on Budenholzer and their relationship. Nurkic responded by saying, “I don’t have a relationship with him. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say much about him.”
This revelation has sparked speculation among fans and analysts about the possible reasons behind Nurkic’s statement. Some believe that there may have been a misunderstanding or miscommunication between the two, while others suggest that there could be underlying tensions or disagreements that have not been made public.
Regardless of the reasons behind Nurkic’s statement, one thing is clear – there seems to be a lack of communication or connection between him and Budenholzer. It remains to be seen whether this will have any impact on their future interactions or on the dynamics of their respective teams.
As the NBA season progresses, it will be interesting to see how this story develops and whether Nurkic and Budenholzer will eventually establish a relationship, or if they will continue to operate in separate spheres. Only time will tell.
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