Mike Budenholzer returned to the NBA this summer as the new Phoenix Suns head coach. With just a few weeks away from the 2024-25 NBA season’s start, Coach Bud spoke about finding success with his new team, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and his excitement for the new season.
Phoenix Suns Head Coach Addresses Stars and Success
Suns Coach Mike Budenholzer’s Excitement to Coach Stars
Budenholzer is returning to the NBA after a year off. He sat out last season following being fired by the Milwaukee Bucks. The championship coach enjoyed a rather successful ride with the Bucks, winning a championship in 2021. Now, he will lead the Suns down that same hopeful road.
One thing Budenholzer knows he has going for him is superstars, which he spoke about while being interviewed by Steve Aschburner of the NBA. Focusing on Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal, Budenholzer referred to a few different elements that can move the trio toward success as a group.
“…Putting the players in position to play together. Play fast. Compete at a high level. We need to compete defensively. And offensively, it means doing all the little things for each other. We have a ton of talent. It’s just finding ways for them to be their best selves.”
The All-Star Trio
Regarding the All-Star trio and the Suns current roster, Budenholzer was excited to coach the talent he has available. As it sits, Durant and Booker are absolute superstars who just won gold in Paris. As for Beal, while he has struggled with injuries lately, he is healthy and ready to go. If the three-time All-Star reverts to anything close to the player he was in Washington, Budenholzer just might have something to work with in a Durant-Booker-Beal trio that failed to see life last season. He went on to praise Booker and Durant’s Olympic performance, expressing how proud of them he was.
“It was great for the whole basketball world, but especially for those of us in Phoenix to see what those two meant to that team. For Book to really embrace a role as kind of a “glue guy” – a guy who defended at a high level, who made big shots, who made big plays, and set the tone for the team getting off to good starts in big games – he was incredibly important to their success. And Kevin, the same. We’ve been seeing it from him for a lot of years with USA Basketball, and this summer was the same. We’re very proud of both.”
Bringing Success to Phoenix
Budenholzer’s exit from Milwaukee was met with criticism and harsh reactions from many in the NBA media toward the organization. Despite the probably undeserved firing, he did not leave Milwaukee without learning to build some measure of success.
Budenholzer referenced talent when asked how he will instill success in Phoenix.
“The most important thing for NBA coaches to have success is to find what fits the talent of your team the best. That’s the challenge for me… there are things that will be specific to our talent and what we have in Phoenix. We have to maximize it.”
Budenholzer has no shortage of talent. In Milwaukee, he had a dominant lineup featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. In Phoenix, his new lineup features Durant, Booker, Beal, Jusuf Nurkic, and Tyus Jones (his recently announced starting five lineup.) Budenholzer is in a great spot with the Suns and is in great spirits as he prepares to coach two superstars in Durant and Booker.
