Suns play better basketball, while the former starter Jusuf Nurkic is deep on the bench

Phoenix (AP) – It looks good for the Phoenix Sun on the basketball court. The same does not apply to Jusuf Nurkic.

The fighting Nurkic has developed from the start center to a substitute within about a month. Coach Mike Budenholzer does not look as if he would reverse this decision in the foreseeable future – especially after the Suns won eight of their last eleven games and newcomer Nick Richards appear.

Nurkic caused a sensation on Saturday evening when the Arizona Republic Center announced in front of a 119:10 win over the Washington Wizards that he had not held a conversation with Budenholzer for two months and that the two had no relationship. .. “

“He didn’t play,” said Budenholzer when he was asked for Nurkic’s comments. “I am sure that he is frustrated, so I respect that.”

The 30-year-old Nurkic has largely been a regular player in the past ten years, but since moving to the Suns before last season, his number has dropped. This season he achieved only 8.2 points and 9.6 rebounds on average, while he shoots 45.4 % out of the field.

He also had other problems. After a fight with Naji Marshall from Dallas and PJ Washington, he was blocked for three games. He also missed the team’s last five games after he had to struggle with flu.

Nurkic was available against the Wizards on Saturday, but was not used.

Richards – who was added to Charlotte on January 15 as part of a exchange – has taken over most of the minutes in the post in the last four games. He scored an average of 13.2 points and 12.2 rebounds and had 20 points and 19 rebounds against the Wizards on Saturday.

“We have three out of four players who play the same position,” said Budenholzer. “We will choose the one we believe that he offers us the best chances. You have to earn your minutes. That was communicated. “

The Suns could hire Nurkic before the trading period on February 6, but in view of the team’s salary limit and the poor performance of the center this season, this is not a certainty. It is over $ 70 million in the third season of a four-year contract.

Thanks to the star trio from Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Phoenix went to the season with high expectations, but had problems with constancy. Phoenix improved on Saturday after the victory against Washington to 23-21.

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