Jusuf Nurkic Reports Deteriorating Relationship with Suns Coach Budenholzer

Jusuf Nurkic, the center for the Phoenix Suns, has expressed frustration over his deteriorating relationship with head coach Mike Budenholzer, stating they 'don’t have a relationship.' Since being benched on January 9, Nurkic has missed several games and has not played since January 7, leading to speculation about his future with the team as the trade deadline approaches. Budenholzer acknowledged Nurkic's frustrations but emphasized that players must earn their minutes, noting that there have been conversations between them. The Suns have recently replaced Nurkic in the starting lineup with Nick Richards, who has shown promise in his new role. Despite the internal strife, the Suns are currently in playoff contention, sitting at 23 wins and 21 losses. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges within the Suns' locker room amidst trade rumors and player dynamics.