Suns Insider Shuts Down Two Names for Coaching Vacancy

As the Phoenix Suns' coaching search continues, more information is coming out on who the team may pursue.

While Nick Nurse and Mike Budenholzer were two names that were brought up in coaches that the Phoenix Suns may be interested in, Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro shot down those rumors.

“I do not expect Mike Budenholzer to be pursued by the Suns,” Gambadoro said. “I do not expect Nick Nurse to be pursued by the Phoenix Suns. I know those are popular names. I know Woj mentioned both of those names in a report you played a little bit earlier here.”

Nurse and Budenholzer make sense for the Suns because they are experienced coaches who have both won championships in the past - but they have some flaws as well.

Budenholzer failed to make the necessary in-game adjustments during the Milwaukee Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat. After holding a league-leading 58 wins, the Bucks were eliminated by Miami in a measly five games.

Making in-game adjustments come playoff time is critical if a team is to win a championship and Budenholzer has proven that is not his strong suit.

While Nurse won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, since the team lost Kawhi Leonard in free agency, the team has regressed and Nurse has been unable to emulate the same level of success that he put on display during during the 2019 playoffs run.

Some other coaches that are available include Doc Rivers, Mark Jackson, Frank Vogel and Mike D’Antoni. Phoenix have also been rumored to have interest in current associate head coach Kevin Young who has been with the Suns organization since 2020.