Jusuf Nurkić and Mike Budenholzer aren’t in a good place.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkić said he and head coach Mike Budenholzer "don't have a relationship" in the aftermath of his benching.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic hasn't played since Jan. 7 at Charlotte but was available for Saurday's game.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkic was unceremoniously benched.

Suns center Jusuf Nurkic, who hasn't played since Jan. 7, says he hasn't spoken to coach Mike Budenholzer in two months.

Jusuf Nurkic said that he has no relationship with Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer over the past two months, but the coach disagrees.

Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic appeared in and started all but six of the team’s regular season contests during the 2023-24 campaign (plus all four playoff tilts), leading the squad in both games played and started with 76.

Nurkic said he and Suns coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t talk for two months. This is consistent with him saying Budenholzer didn’t inform him about a decision not to play him Jan. 9 against Atlanta.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie presents a trade that would send Jusuf Nurkic to the Chicago Bulls and forward Patrick Williams to the Phoenix Suns.

Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro registered a double-double on assignment in the G League to help the Valley Suns defeat the Salt Lake City Stars.

Of course, the Suns were expected to be one of the top teams in the West this season due to their superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Instead, they have struggled, which has already made them make some moves to upgrade their roster.