
Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer recently spoke about his decision to move Jusuf Nurkic out of the starting lineup, emphasizing that the change should not be viewed as drastic. The adjustment comes as the Suns aim to improve their consistency amid a challenging season.
When asked what “broke the camel’s back” regarding Nurkic’s benching, Budenholzer clarified, via Duane Rankin, “I wouldn’t put it in those kind of drastic terms. It’s a long season. He didn’t play a couple of games and now he’s been sick. He’s home reconditioning. We’ll see how he comes through when we go back. We all got to find a way to be better defensively, be better offensively. The whole group.”
Nurkic, 30, began losing his starting role on January 6, in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Mason Plumlee has since taken over as the starting center, with Nurkic’s playing time diminishing further after January 9. The big man is currently averaging 8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists across 23.7 minutes per game this season.
The Suns, sitting 10th in the Western Conference with a 22-21 record, are focused on climbing the standings. While Nurkic’s health and performance have been factors in the lineup change, Budenholzer has reiterated the importance of collective improvement across the roster.
The team’s struggles have coincided with other lineup changes, including Bradley Beal’s recent move to the bench. These shifts come as Phoenix continues to pursue Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler in a potential trade. Acquiring Butler would likely involve trading Beal, adding further intrigue to the Suns’ evolving roster.