For Mike Budenholzer, the new coach of the Phoenix Suns, it was an emotional Friday afternoon.
When the Holbrook native went back to his own state, he was warmly welcomed. Vince Budenholzer, the 94-year-old father of coach Budenholzer, was present to see his son’s introduction as the 22nd head coach in Suns history by renowned broadcaster Al McCoy.
The 53-year-old Budenholzer played at Holbrook High School for his father. The day was made much more special by the fact that he grew up a Suns fan, watching players like the late Paul Westphal and listening to McCoy call the shots.
Budenholzer declared, “If this team were on the moon, I would coach it.” “If this team were in Alaska and these guys were in Denmark, I would coach them. If I could coach this team, I would go anywhere. I’m thrilled about everything, including the roster.
Budenholzer was hired based on his track record of success as a high-level coach, not because of his connections to Arizona.
Budenholzer has won 484 games during his NBA career, good for a.604 career winning %. In 2015 and 2019, he won the NBA Coach of the Year award twice. Most significantly, though, he ended Milwaukee’s 50-year title drought by winning the team’s third NBA championship.
The Suns are going through a similar drought to Milwaukee’s, but instead of aiming to win another title, they want to win their first in the 55-year existence of the team.
James Jones, general manager of the Phoenix Suns, is aware of the team’s goals. After he assisted in assembling a roster that featured Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal, the previous season was a great letdown.
The team never clicked, going 49-33 overall before Minnesota swept them in the opening round of the playoffs. Coach Frank Vogel was fired as a result of it after just one season.
“As a coach, management, and player, we believe that having the opportunity to compete for championships is important, and we have that opportunity here in Phoenix,” stated Budenholzer. “I’m excited about competing for championships,” the speaker said.
Budenholzer and the Bucks defeated a Phoenix Suns squad that is very different from the club of today to win the 2021 title. Prominent athletes including Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges, Deandre Ayton, Cam Johnson, and Cam Payne have all been traded. Devin Booker is actually the only member of the group still playing for the Suns.
Working with this roster and these players excites me, said Budenholzer. “We have outstanding players, and outstanding players have high expectations. I believe we should accept that and recognize the significance of the work we undertake on a daily basis. How are we improving each day? That, in my opinion, will enable us to reach our full potential.
The Suns’ roster for the upcoming season is still largely unknown, but Booker, Durant, and Beal will surely be the main players. Having coached and spent time with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson, Budenholzer is no stranger to working with superstars.
Budenholzer stated, “To be honest with you, with every player on our roster, the most important thing is to build a relationship with them.” This applies to all of the great players. “Tell them you sincerely care about them, about their feelings, about events in their lives, and about helping them become the best basketball player they can be. The outstanding ones, in my opinion, aren’t content with where they are and strive to improve.
At the end of the season, the Suns collectively were clearly unhappy with their situation. Even while the lineup and star power appeared to be complete, something was still lacking.
Budenholzer and Jones approach the game similarly, pressing and playing quickly. Above all, though, Jones noticed something else about Budenholzer that made him stand out throughout the coaching hunt.
We shifted swiftly to Bud because, according to Jones, “he fits our roster’s needs when you look at our roster.” “I’m an aggressive person. We discussed this all along the way. In just two minutes, Bud must have said “compete” 95 times. However, strive to excel in all that you do, practice competing, and compete against one another. Engage in competition with your opponent, but above all, compete with yourself. And I believed that the squad needed to improve in that particular area.
Jones is optimistic that Budenholzer’s signing will give a fresh perspective to a club and community who have been waiting a long time for an NBA championship.
Budenholzer remarked, “Talking about championships is kind of meaningless.” “At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words; words are cheap. Therefore, I ask everyone I speak with—including our ownership, front office staff, and players—what we do each day to strive for excellence. That is what Phoenix championship victories will require.
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