There's no escaping the fact that new Phoenix Suns' head coach Mike Budenholzer has a lot of work to do between now and the start of the 2024-25 season. Remedying the organization's point guard issues was a great start, although the scales may now have tipped in the other direction.
Adding proven veterans like Mason Plumlee to the rotation also helps a group that is going to try and win it all next season. Really though it is ensuring that Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are happy and comfortable, that will dictate just how far this group can go alongside their new leading man.
You can also add Jusuf Nurkic to that list, with coach Bud having been to see him overseas recently.
Center Nurkic has spent time this offseason enjoying a holiday in Japan, as well as time back in his native Bosnian. There he has run some camps and looks to be in great condition, which is just as well as the Suns will need him to be as healthy as he was last season to man the paint for them.
Nurkic recently took to Instagram to share an update on how his summer is going - and to the surprise of many - coach Budenholzer made an appearance. The two posing for a picture together in what it needs to again be said, features a trim Nurkic happliy next to his new coach.
This is smart work from Budenholzer, as he is clearly getting perhaps the most selfless player on the roster to buy into his vision early. Last season Nurkic said at media day that he would willingly do all of the dirty work and never get any credit for it, if it meant that the franchise was a true contender. Nurkic held up his end of the bargain, but the Suns did not.
It would be easy for coach Bud to focus instead on the duo currently competing at the Olympic Games in Paris, plus Beal. Instead he's travelled far to check in with a player who - whether you like it or not - is going to start every game he is available to next season. Only Grayson Allen may rival Nurkic in the selfless stakes at this point, and could have been more an accident than anything else.
The biggest myth in hoops skill-development is it’s hard to become a shooter if you’re a “non-shooter”. It’s just progressed past the point where Big’s aren’t relied on to fire up 3’s/jumpers.
— Ben Sig 🚬 (@sig_50) August 1, 2024
Jusuf Nurkic in Coach Bud’s system will be an myth-buster 👉pic.twitter.com/cj0GjhvtZS
The hope is that Budenholzer has also shared how he hopes to use Nurkic offensively this coming season, with both player and coach known to excel on that end of the court. Defending at a high level is also massively important for this team - but if we're being honest - Nurkic is who he is going to be on that end from now until he calls it a career.
Where Budenholzer can use the Bosnian to great impact is with his passing and movement in and around the paint. He's not going to get his number called often, but you can bet Nurkic will be an important pivot player for certain plays, as he gets touches inside that ultimately lead to better looks elsewhere. Chalk this one down as an early win and smart move from coach Budenholzer.