Jusuf Nurkic Alleges Alcohol Addiction by Former Suns Coach Mike Budenholzer
Nurkic claims Mike Budenholzer struggled with alcohol and provided overly basic instructions to Kevin Durant, as the Suns missed the playoffs with a 36-46 record.
Jusuf Nurkic, a centre for the Utah Jazz, has made serious allegations regarding the personal conduct of former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer. Speaking on the X&O Chat Podcast, Nurkic described Budenholzer as an “alcohol addict” and stated that the coach was “really having a problem with it.” The comments were made while Nurkic reflected on his time under Budenholzer’s leadership during the 2024-25 NBA season.
Nurkic, who played for the Suns before joining the Jazz, suggested that the coaching environment was compromised by these issues. “The situation we were in, the environment, we were in. And then you find out, well, I don’t know if I should say this. But the guy was an alcohol addict,” Nurkic said. The remarks mark a significant departure from the professional narrative surrounding Budenholzer, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year Award winner who previously led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship.
Beyond the personal allegations, Nurkic criticised Budenholzer’s tactical approach, specifically citing an interaction with star player Kevin Durant. Nurkic compared the coach explaining scoring fundamentals to Durant as “explaining to a pilot how to fly a plane.” He noted that while basic instruction might be acceptable for other players, applying it to Durant was illogical. “He was literally explaining to Kevin Durant how to score a basket,” Nurkic said. “If he had been telling to me, or Gordon, or Royce O’Neal or Grayson Allen, whatever, but explaining to Kevin Durant how to score? That’s like explaining to a pilot how to fly a plane.”
The coaching tenure in question ended with the Suns failing to qualify for the NBA Playoffs. Budenholzer coached the team for the 2024-25 season, managing a lineup that included Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Despite high expectations for the star-studded roster, the Suns finished with a 36-46 record, marking a disappointing outcome for a coach with Budenholzer’s pedigree.
Budenholzer’s time with the Suns followed a period of personal tragedy, as his brother passed away in 2023 while Budenholzer was still coaching the Milwaukee Bucks. Nurkic’s public comments, sourced from a podcast interview, remain unverified and offer a subjective perspective on the internal dynamics of the Suns’ locker room during a challenging season.
