It is a coup for the Suns. Mike Budenholzer spent 17 seasons as an assistant to San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich. AFP ... [+] PHOTO/Paul BUCK (Photo credit should read PAUL BUCK/AFP via Getty ...

It's no surprise to recent NBA retirees DeMarcus Cousins and Lou Williams that Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer abruptly removed Jusuf Nurkic from the starting lineup and rotation in January.

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.