Overview
- This week former Suns center Jusuf Nurkic told the X&O’s Chat podcast that Mike Budenholzer was an “alcohol addict” while coaching Phoenix and that the issue affected the team’s environment.
- Nurkic said Budenholzer micromanaged star Kevin Durant — even trying to ‘explain’ how to score — and scheduled one‑on‑one meetings he described as meant to provoke players.
- Budenholzer was fired after the 2024–25 season when the Suns finished 36–46 and missed the playoffs, and some reports say the team paid roughly $40 million to buy out his contract.
- Budenholzer has not publicly responded to Nurkic’s allegations and remains without an NBA coaching job, while no former Suns teammate has publicly corroborated the alcoholism claim.
- The allegation has drawn social‑media criticism of Nurkic, revived questions about the Suns’ 2024–25 collapse, and could affect how Budenholzer’s championship résumé and past incidents are viewed going forward.