Jusuf Nurkić claims that Mike Budenholzer was struggling with alcoholism during his time with the Phoenix Suns, which impacted his ability to build relationships with players and implement his system
“I don’t even know I should say this”
Any time you have this thought, it usually means you shouldn’t say it.
Nurkic just needed an excuse to say his catchphrase (“That brother needs help”)
Nurk looks at camera smiling.
“That brother needs help.”
studio audience laugh track
Gives us a little clarity at least. I couldnt figure out why Phoenix gave up on him so fast. Yet Doc Rivers is still riding off that title from 08 😂
I think it’s easy to say Doc isn’t one of those tightly wound types that are hard to get along with
I mean Bud was the only coach I saw lose Booker. Vogel didn’t even lose him..
Booker has a reputation with some fans for not being vocal enough on the court to his teammates and in huddles, fair or not….and Bud told him to stop talking so much and let him coach 😂
because for most teams retaining and keeping your stars happy is no.1 priority and doc rivers is really good at that
I think Doc is just likeable as a person and speaks owner. I dont know if its more complicated than that anymore.
I mean it was his co-worker not family member, if it is indeed true, than it’s not like something taboo or some kind of betrayal. There are insane amount of functional alcoholics that eventually struggle once you cross that 50s barrier and you become “less functioning” with each month.
I guess the key is whether it has any truth in it or not, if you are not 100% sure whether what you are saying is true than yeah then you shouldn’t…. but somehow i don’t think Jusuf is lying here so it’s ok.
keep in mind though, he had just spent 5 years in Wisconsin. Where he would be on par as functional and sober.
Giannis’ recent comments suggest that he might not have running a tight ship with the Bucks either…
What did he say? Sorry I tried looking it up but didn’t find anything recent
As your Minnesotan neighbor, you’re correct
It’s kinda taboo, they’re still coworkers in that neither has retired from the NBA. And it definitely hurts his future prospects having this out there.
On the flipside, it sounds like he was a huge asshole. Family tragedy only excuses so much.
Our radio guy on lockedonbucks said the bucks players got tired of bud and him being kind of a tool but the timing of the tragedy and the first round flame out made it look like the bucks were monsters. Still this is a dick thing to put out there IMO
I don’t know man. I’m in recovery myself, and this is just my opinion, but if my alcoholism is affecting those around me, they are fully entitled to talk about it and I just have to own it.
You don’t think every other NBA team and players who care don’t know about this?
Bud was arrested and went to trial for DUI before. Not exactly a secret he had alcohol problems.
Nah, you can’t work with people like that and if Bud needs to be called out publicly for his drinking then so be it. He isn’t just fucking up his own life, he’s fucking up the lives of everyone he works with. He already got a DUI before, maybe this can be the wake up call he needs to fix his problems.
they say you drive drunk 50 times on average before you are caught
That’s the dumbest fake statistic I’ve ever heard. lol
You been friends with any drunks? Because it’s a very real sounding fake statistic
lol dude for actual drinks it’s hundreds or even thousands of times
Exactly lol 50 is how many times they would drive drunk in a month.
Oh yeah i just thought they meant it couldn’t possibly be that many. Alcoholics don’t really drive sober lol
No offense…. Proceeds to say some out of pocket shit.
I’m not racist, but……. Proceeds to say some racist shit.
Idk if I should say this…. Says some shit they shouldn’t have said.
Did I miss any?
Idk if it’s a good time chooses the worst time possible
banger.
I had a book that was titled the room and would give it to morons at work and tell them to read it.
With all due respect… Proceeds to say disrespectful shit.
Followed with I didn’t know y’all were such pussies
I sat courtside at a Jazz Nets game this year and he seemed like a douche but reserved my judgement. This kind of confirms it.
I’m not sure in this case. If it’s just someone you know in their private life, you leave it alone. But this was a work environment and also someone with pretty direct control over the team’s success. You have to call out people in leadership positions with those issues.
That was the worst kept secret from last year
Lol reminds me of Adam Gase looking high off coke or some substance in his first introduction press conference and years later Leveon Bell confirming it
u talkin bout that conference where his eyes kept dartin like he was seein demons 😂
I’m fucking crying 😂😂😂 I googled his name and the pictures are insane lmaooo
Watch da video
Especially the Taco cut
Good golly miss molly.
The New York Jets coach was formally introduced Monday at the team’s facility, and social media was quickly abuzz. No, not with his vision for the team or where he sees quarterback Sam Darnold’s progress going. It was all about Gase’s eyes, which were intensely focused at times throughout the nearly 20-minute news conference. So, of course it took social media no more than a New York minute to notice — and excitedly create sudden memes and gifs that poked fun at the new Jets coach’s eyes. A Twitter account called Adam Gase’s Eyes — @Crazy_Gase_Eyes — featuring TV screen grabs and various photos, was also quickly created by an unknown user — and had nearly 200 followers and 27 tweets in just two hours. “Just keeping my eyes on the prize, guys,” the account tweeted.
The New York Jets coach was formally introduced Monday at the team’s facility, and social media was quickly abuzz.
No, not with his vision for the team or where he sees quarterback Sam Darnold’s progress going. It was all about Gase’s eyes, which were intensely focused at times throughout the nearly 20-minute news conference.
So, of course it took social media no more than a New York minute to notice — and excitedly create sudden memes and gifs that poked fun at the new Jets coach’s eyes.
A Twitter account called Adam Gase’s Eyes — @Crazy_Gase_Eyes — featuring TV screen grabs and various photos, was also quickly created by an unknown user — and had nearly 200 followers and 27 tweets in just two hours.
“Just keeping my eyes on the prize, guys,” the account tweeted.
lmao
Social media wasn’t the only one “abuzz”
That mother fucker was FRIED 😭
You ain’t lying
https://youtu.be/xQ3gaecOE08?is=DAxu62_tmZ1I-Jlc
It’s weird because he sounds calm and calculated but his eyes and neck are anything but
Joe Mazzula: “Sure, sometimes I get a little out there, but that guy…”
Holy shit I just watched it! That dude was TWEAKING
bro looks coked out in the pictures when you google him
Link?
Adam Gase walked so Dan Lanning could run
never seen it mentioned before and im here everyday
but the dude definately looked like it. I did say to myself that dude doesnt look good
Pretty confused by the comments here lol.
I hope the guy is ok and everything, but it sounds like he is an abusive drunk asshole? Seems perfectly fine to call someone out when you’re all making millions in public and this guy has a massive impact on your career and earnings.
Everyone loves gossip about players and laugh when they are suspended for illegal drug use, but god forbid a coach gets the same treatment.
Or owners or anyone in the front office.
I’m telling you no one hates NBA players more than NBA “fans”
Don’t expect sensible comments in here this place is full of children who think the NBA should be a boys club and not a professional organization.
Having your career tanked by a drunken coach would make me absolutely crash out on someone. This is insane behavior. I’ve never met a “nice” drunken coworker on the job.
Anytime someone was suspected of it they were treated delicately because of the legal implication if the company was wrong.
Outside of that it was an open secret what a dick they were. Can only imagine dealing with that on an NBA level from a head coach.
They are supposed to exercise and teach discipline. Does this behavior sound disciplined to anyone in here?
Exactly lol. I understand some people are fucked up and need to work anyway, but this guy is a millionaire. Go get help instead of taking a high stress leadership position getting drunk at work around young people you mentor lol.
Just cause we can have empathy for someone who is an alcoholic doesn’t mean they aren’t still acting like a total asshole.
Agree 100%. I had serious alcohol issues for about a decade and whatever internal tumult may have been plaguing me, it doesn’t excuse the times I acted in a way that was harmful to those around me. I find it annoying to no end when people act like this absolves people of any responsibility for their actions.
100% you can’t work with someone like that.
If he needs to be called out publicly to prevent this type of shit from happening again then so be it. May actually be a wake up call for him to get help and fix his problems.
It’s amazing to me as a staff around him and an ownership group you wouldn’t push back on his attitude. Like that bully manager style just isn’t effective in pro sports. Especially in the NBA
Maybe cos its nurk saying it or smth. In almost every other thread redditors are harsh against DUI offenders. But bud gets a pass?
Had a DUI back in the day too, hope he’s able to recover if this is true
Was arrested then went to trial and got a not guilty.
basic millionarie things
Maybe the famously upstanding, noble and pure police didn’t actually have evidence of it?
You’re probably right that the police/prosecutor didn’t have enough evidence, but you’re reaching with implying that the police would frame/make up evidence to screw coach bud. I know the police suck (I lived in Roxbury in Boston growing up; historical black neighborhood is not gonna have a good rep with the police), but lets not act like 99% of what they do is fake.
OP is saying that the police were helping Bud out by saying that they didn’t have enough evidence.
Like when they helped Henry Ruggs out by messing with the DUI evidence leading to his sweetheart plea deal because the prosecutors thought the evidence would be thrown out.
Ruggs potentially getting out and returning to the NFL after burning a girl and her dog alive pisses me off so much. At least he’s sorry tho right nfl??
but lets not act like 99% of what they do is fake.
99% or more of what they do is fake. Phony charges, smelling shit where there’s no smell, no probable cause. The cops are not your friend and giving them the benefit of the doubt is not helping anyone.
Likely both wrong.
DUIs usually get zero punishment regardless if you’re rich or poor. Most murders from drunk drivers have 5+ DUIs before. No one seems to care much.
He was found not guilty. What you’re referring to would be him being found guilty but lenient sentence
bro even the poorest of people all get their DUI’s dropped or lessened lol. just take it to trial and theyll settle
He refused to take a sobriety test
That’s why I didnt say he was innocent.
Refusing field sobriety isn’t an issue. I don’t even drink and id refuse them too because idk if id even pass them sober
If you don’t drink and find yourself in this situation, you can always ask them to skip the field sobriety and tell them that you’re willing to do the breathalyzer. Then you do that, get a below legal limit and then go about your day.
Seems like a great thing for him to out randomly during a podcast and then make a joke of, especially considering he’d recently lost a family member
Something about international players doing interviews in their home country…
The filter just comes completely off lol
I swear they switch to their native language and forget that American media has access to translators lmao
It’s like tweeting with a burner account. In Phoenix, when employed in the NBA, and you’re famous. I mean, what are the odds that someone finds out later? Never happens, right?
Get off your high horserson
Or they just feel more comfortable expressing themselves in their native language.
Not like there are NBA fans who also follow players from their own country, right guys?
Nando de Colo said in French that he deserved to be a starter or more minutes (I don’t recall) and Pop found out…
Well, he got less minutes… like zero
If my boss was showing up drunk to work, I’d be talking about it too. Fuck out of here. That’s a toxic ass workplace. Like, sorry about your brother, but you don’t get to drag down the whole damn team.
This thread is so weird acting like the players he was actively provoking owe him some code of silence
Honor culture mentality
facts
He was an alcoholic long before his brother died. Everyone in Milwaukee knew.
Coach Bud had a DUI in 2013, long before his brother passed. Fair to say he has an alcohol issue. You’re supposed to be leading men, but instead you’re calling people out about being bad teammates, etc , while you’re struggling with substance abuse…? Insane
It is worth noting that he successfully battled that charge in court.
It’s worth noting that the millionaire coach beat a DUI. OKAY
I have friends who have beat DUIs on $60K/year, and they certainly weren’t driving sober lol
Why isn’t it worth noting? Have you read up on any of the actual details of his case? The watch commander at the Atlanta jail when Bud was arrested even testified on his behalf that he didn’t appear drunk to him. Do you think Bud bribed him?
Yeah, a the police in Georgia would never overlook something for the sake of sports.
Yeah, that is exactly how it sounds. A watch commander testifying for a case where he wasn’t the officer booking him?
Basically confirms it. That shit doesn’t happen.
he successfully battled that charge in court.
A rich white male getting no punishment for drunk driving? So brave /s
Thanks.
I hate when people drop important information such as this.
How are ya’ll really defending a head coach being a workplace alcoholic?
Coach Bud light
Wazzzzuuuuppp!
Now that’s a timely reference hahah
bud-weis-urrrrrr
Brutal. I’ve had alcoholic bosses in the past (tech) and there’s nothing more frustrating.
We all know how tough it is dealing with the classic alcoholic traits (volatile moods, misplaced frustration, unpreparedness, etc), but the worst thing is their inability to adapt and grow.
Chronic alcohol abuse really fucks up your ability to take in feedback (passive and active) and make changes. Like the learning part of your brain just shrivels up.
Mike’s coaching always struck me as fiercely unable to adapt.
Like the learning part of your brain just shrivels up.
It is of course literally a neurotoxin
Devin Booker has been through a lot with the turnstiles of coaches he’s had in recent years. Earl Watson, Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer.
He’s a superstar for having to deal with them.
Dude just wants to hang back and live his life in PHX. He’s not interested in moving. He’ll stay on the suns despite all of the bad, because he values his life rather than winning. And that’s totally fair. I don’t hate the man for that.
Honestly, the team seemed like it was in a much better place this year.
That’s true. But what does their future look like? They have no one else other than Booker right now. Brooks is a valuable role player, but come on. They have no chance to seriously compete with anyone in the west
I think their future is early playoff exits and 40-55 win seasons until they have their own draft picks and a chance to rebuild.
Jay Triano
Just blows my mind Suns hired Luka’s former coach and still didn’t draft him
I listened to the whole conversation (Bosnian), and never even see this as something noticeable. It was just mentioned as an aside in a 2-hour conversation.
And also, being paid millions and showing up to work drunk is not great? People talk about alcoholism as if it was forced upon him, not a concious choice.
In other pieces of conversation, he explains how bad the Bud period was for the entire team, how none of the players liked him, and how it’s a stark contrast to Stotts, who had everyone’s respect in Portland.
There’s a ton of brilliant nuggets in this interview (him talking about Lillard/CJ/Melo was beyond interesting), but taking one comment that wasn’t even bad out of context and being outraged is crazy.
What did he say about CJ, Lillard and Melo?
How they’re (Lillard and CJ) just so normal, and how they were unselfish. Talked about how Dame really only cared about winning, never his stats, and how he built up that culture throughout the team.
Funny part is that Stotts was strict about delays and made it a point that everyone had to show up on time (planes, practices, etc). Like, it was one thing he cared about the most, but when Melo came, he was consistently late to things, and his excuse was always a version of ‘nobody told me when this was’.
Classic melo lol
Lol and also talked about how Hezonja could never understand why Dame was allowed to pull up from the halfcourt and he wasn’t so Nurk would try talking some sense into him, but to no avail
Being paid hundreds or thousands and showing up to work drunk isn’t good either.
Don’t know why we need to bring up these people’s salaries when criticizing their actions.
Alcoholism is forced upon people because it’s an addiction. People choose to drink and that comes with the danger of becoming an addict but no one wants to be dependent on something.
The selective pearl clutching of this sub never ceases to amaze.
It’s very easy to identify the selection criteria if you think about every situation, regardless of how apolitical it might seem, as political.
[deleted]
I mean, the fuck did he have to work with? Your roster was garbage. The players are more at fault than him for his failure.
Trading for Bradley Beal is up there with one of the dumbest decisions a franchise has made in recent history.
Defensively the team didn’t ever stand a chance but it was pitiful how bad the offense looked, especially considering just a year prior Vogel had us looking at least solid on both ends
Essentially the exact same roster in 2023-2024 with Vogel won 13 more games. Buldenhozer was horrible.
The majority of our players getting minutes this year were on the roster last year too. Plus KD.
Sub loves to shit on the Suns any chance they get
This exactly.
Most redditors on this sub, their knowledge of any teams outside of their own is a mile wide but an inch deep. It was obvious that this team took a massive step back during KD’s last year here. Frank Vogel had them balling and at least giving a shit on defense. That doesn’t all just magically go away just because you add Bradley Beal to the team.
Something was rotten, but no one until now had the balls to say what it was. But now I guess we know.
Y’all, ironically, didn’t mind shitting on Nurkic while he was there and after he was gone.
“He was explaining to Kevin Durant how to score”
That’s all you need to know. Budenholzer, according to Nurkić, thought valuable time should be spent teaching KD the intricacies of how to score in basketball.
You think there’s not a single nuance that KD could learn from a coach that might help him even a little at some aspect of scoring?
KD has played 2 decades in the NBA and scored about 32k points, I think he’s got that part figured out some time ago.
Instead of spending time trying to teach motherfucking Kevin Durant how to score which is like the most diminishing returns shit, try coaching the other guys instead where actual gains might be found.
I mean if its true, that explains a lot
Even if this is true, it’s super scummy to out him like that. Not his story to tell…
Why?
If an alcoholic was in my face every day at practice, and we’re losing games, trade value, and probably dignity, and this dude is an asshole with a problem making millions a year taking no accoutability (or even heat) for it?
I’m telling everyone.
117%, People in drunk houses shouldn’t throw glass stones
This clip doesn’t really expound on anything about it though. Is it something he heard with absolute certainty from someone higher up in the organization? Was he showing up drunk to practices and games? Is it just a rumor that circulated around the locker room? That’s a pretty lofty allegation to make against someone, so just haphazardly tossing it in during his list of grievances seems like a really stupid way to reveal that type of info.
Sounds like he was getting drunk and being a dick to players, idk how you read this as potential hearsay.
Every person I’ve ever worked with that was drunk was noticably drunk. People always talk about functioning alcoholics, but if it’s getting to a point to where you’re using it at work, people know. Most of the time nobody gives a shit as long as the person does their work and isn’t causing issues.
But people see the cover ups, the sneaking around, and especially the micro slip ups of slurring words, stumbling, or having brainfarts. It’s always obvious, and if you know actual alcoholics in your life then you have an eye for it even more so.
I can’t imagine he would be calling him an alcoholic without a good reason.
I have to agree, Bud coached my favorite team to the only championship it’s had in my lifetime, and I will always love that from him but if he really was an abusive alcoholic at the job like this he deserves to be called out for it. They can be so mean in so many small ways and it’s like a death by a thousand cuts while also being shot in the gut.
Is it scummy when players get publicly suspended for drug use? R/nba seemed to think Paul George’s situation was pretty funny.
Most sane people would assume if you come drunk to your place of work, people finding out would be the least of your concerns. I’d be arrested and lose my liscense to work in my field ever again.
He’s not out-ing him. I think a lot of basketball Suns/Hawks/Bucks fans have suspicions that Bud struggles with alcohol. He’s 56 and looks 70
Holy shit he’s 56?
I didn’t fucking know. It would be nice to have known why my favorite team turned into a dumpster fire.
yeah I actually didn’t know this either. he had a dui in Atlanta? I had no clue lol
TIL I’ve been living under a rock
I wonder how many other coaches or sports personnel do. It’s an insane grind and even worse for non-players. Lots of travel, up at weird hours, being away from your family, long days, etc.
I remember watching a behind the scenes video of an NBA road trip and the poor equipment dude looked like he hadn’t sleep in a week.
To be fair, his kind does tend to age quickly and less than gracefully.
Why do the players he was an asshole to and being completely unprofessional with owe him anything?
In this line.
Why not? Nurks experience and his career was impacted by a drunk boss, essentially. This is Nurks life that was affected, of course it’s his story to tell
Reddit is weird. Is it sad Bud was/is potentially alcoholic especially considering death of his family member. Yes. But if you’re getting paid millions to coach a team, you fail miserably and make everyone around you feel like shit, then it’s not weird to say someone has an alcohol problem.
As someone that’s worked in a liquor store for nearly two decades — yeah man, we know
Out of curiosity what are the telltale signs? I thought he looked healthier in Phoenix than Milwaukee. Lost a lot of weight
Out of all the people I assumed were alcoholics based solely on their facial appearance alone, I always just assumed Bud was a functioning alcoholic. The loss of his brother probably didn’t help either.
Agree. He has that pale bloated vein face and his demeanor.
Idk if this is really a big revelation, the guy has a history.
Certainly looked like an alcoholic. he just did not look healthy
I know people don’t think about the NBA in regular terms, but imagine your boss showed up to your job regularly plastered and tried to explain to you how to write an email. Completely unprofessional. Nurk doesn’t have to protect him over something like that
why the fuck would Nurkic say this? even if it is true?
Why not? It’s not like he’s his coach anymore, probably thinks he’s a piece of shit for treating him poorly and doesn’t view alcoholism as an excuse for that behavior
These NBA dudes on average have about 10 good years if they are lucky. If a coach wastes 10% of your career because he’s too drunk to coach, they should be called tf out.
why would u not go and tell people about ur drunken boss that basically wasted a whole year of ur career in a toxic environment? imagine having sympathy for the the millionaire who got called out cuz he’s fucking drunk at work.
I swear dudes think nobody’s gonna translate interviews
Makes sense how suns were able to be a playoff team after everyone left. It was all coaching issues
Sucks for Bud that he allegedly had/is having problems with booze, but if this is true the people we should be angry about is the Front Office, and not Nurkić.
Explaining to KD how to score a bucket is crazy
Dude’s nose looks great!
Doesn’t feel right to say that about someone else. Not your story to tell
If he was responsible for our team I would say something.
What kind of culture are you building when leadership is drunk off their ass?
Imagine your boss drunk all the time telling you what to do but is too drunk to remember what you are capable of.
Clown behavior.
Edit: More clowns more concerned with him saying this on a podcast than a guy showing up to work, and regularly on national television, drunk. How stupid is this world becoming?
I agree. Lots of things happened in Phoenix because of that one messed up season. Other peoples’ lives were affected.
I don’t like this America, where no one ‘should’ speak the truth and suddenly that’s a bigger issue than bad behavior in a professional setting? Speaking the truth is the right thing to do, a code of silence is for criminals and fascists. What happened to our national hero, George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington?
Clown behavior
There’s a difference between saying something to the front office and saying it on a podcast for the public to see, dumbass
Who cares if he recounts his experiences on a podcast?
It’s already over and done. I guarantee information got to the front office because no one shows up to work regularly drunk and no one notices.
It is VERY noticeable.
Maybe you are the dumbass. It’s irresponsible and absolutely clown behavior to show up to work drunk.
If your alcoholism is impacting other people, it’s fair game. The issue isn’t Nurkic talking about it, it’s Budenholzers junkie behavior
yeah i’m sure if your boss was an alcoholic and influenced your position at your job and livelihood you would react very differently
So if your manager or coworker is working under the influence, and this is directly affecting both work quality and work culture… then yeah, it feels completely normal to answer the question if that is indeed the truth.
Life is not easy, and sometimes it sucks major ass… but the difference is that these people earn insane amounts of money and are public figures because of it. Mike’s reputation might directly affect other people, and even though we can be empathetic because he is grieving and having issues… it still is not fair.
Maybe it’s me…. but i don’t really have much compassion for alcoholics. Just for DUI I dislike him as a person. Only shitty human beings drive under influence.
Except “My boss was a drunk” is literally his story
Huh, always thought those extra glassy eyes were weird. Turns out there’s always smoke where there’s fire.
I don’t think it is that surprising to hear Bud had a drinking problem. As someone who came from a family of alcoholics the profuse sweating and red face was a dead give away. However, don’t think it was Nurk’s place to say anything, especially since Bud had a pretty devistating loss and might be trying to cope with it with unhealthy habits.
Also Nurk was an ass during his time in Phoenix. Got mad when he got called out for his bad plays and lack of effort. Probably had a bone to pick with Bud for benching him.
I’ll believe in santa claus before believing a bosnian talk about someone ELSE’S alcoholism
If an expert is bringing it up then I believe it more
This shit was an open secret, people on here would mention how rough he was looking from drinking. Soon as a coworker and actual player points it out, then everyone clutches their pearls?
Coach Budweiser
Mike Boozenholzer
absolute cornball to put this on blast. especially with the grief budenholzer was going through. in overalls and on a podcast no less
Bud was a head coach for like 10 years, he’s not hurting for money. He made a conscious decision to go coach a team when he didn’t need to, while being incapable of doing so. He could have stayed at home or done something else while dealing with this issue, instead he fucked up a team.
haha bud what are you doing? get yourself together man! cant be drinking and coaching.
He’s the one guy who looked like he actually had an alcohol problem
Alcoholism sucks. I hope he gets better. No one nor their family deserves the pain and suffering of addiction. It’s a bitch.
To quote Johnny Mac “You cannot be serious!”
coach Budlight fr
Just hope Bud finds peace
What coaching the Suns does to a MFer
Didn’t his brother die like right before he went to Phoenix? Yea that’d probably make you drink
Now I understand why KD felt like he was being scapegoated. He was being talked about like the problem in the locker room but it was really the coach the whole time. Crazy situation.
Is he a free agent?
Coaches will band together to blackball him
Because he called out their alcoholic colleague?
Children in here are ridiculous.
How dare you talk about a guy committing an obviously fireable offense on a public facing job highly concerned about public perception??
He didn’t get fired for no reason, he got fired for being a drunk. Maybe step away from the team like a professional if you are struggling with something personally, like an adult.