Devin Booker and the Phonix Suns are fully embracing Coach Mike Budenholzer’s 3-point philosophy to stretch the floor and create more opportunities. (Photo by Emma Jeanson/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – From coaching the Eastern Conference’s top seed in Atlanta to leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 2021 NBA Championship ring, first-year Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer brings his winning background and successful coaching style to the Valley.
The Suns are in a win-now mode and believe in their new coach to get them there after failing to live up to expectations since Kevin Durant was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023.
After finishing with a 49-33 record and suffering a first-round sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Suns general manager James Jones knew changes were necessary. Phoenix fired coach Frank Vogel after just one season with the team and turned to Budenholzer, who has a 484-317 regular-season record in his 10 seasons as a head coach, leading his teams to postseason play in nine of those years.
Now holding the keys to a talented roster, Budenholzer’s adjustments to the Suns’ philosophy will be displayed Wednesday on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers as the regular season tips off.
Previewed in the preseason, the Suns will launch the 3-pointer at a higher clip. While 3-point attempts have skyrocketed across the league in recent years, Budenholzer always advocated for open looks and shooting more threes as a collective.
Mike Budenholzer brings his championship pedigree and winning mindset to the Phoenix Suns, who open the 2024-25 season Wednesday in Los Angeles. (Photo by Emma Jeanson/Cronkite News)
“I think our sport’s in a great place. I think the skill and talent of our players are in a great place,” Budenholzer said when asked about the league’s continuous rise in 3-point attempts.
Since 2011, the amount of 3-point attempts across the league has shot up 90%, from 18.4 to 35.1 attempts per game on league average.
Budenholzer’s previous teams ranked in the top 10 in 3-point attempts in all but one of his 10 seasons in Milwaukee and Atlanta. It’s no wonder he’s implementing the same blueprint in Phoenix – and the Suns players are buying in.
“I like it,” Devin Booker said. “Obviously you got to take what the defense gives you but even attempting a 3-point shot, not even making it, stretches out defenses and opens up better looks throughout the game. We have a lot of sharpshooters on this team too so the volume should be up.”
Perhaps no one’s role changes this season more than Suns center Jusuf Nurkić, who agreed with Booker about the team’s new offensive strategy, saying, “It’s great.” The 7-footer shot 36.1% from behind the arc on 2.3 attempts per game in his last season with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Nurkić worked on his shot all offseason to become a threat from behind the arc, and Budenholzer has made it clear that he wants him to shoot the ball more frequently.
“The evolution of four-men and five-men bigs that can shoot, I think that was a big moment in the sport,” Budenholzer said. “Now (Chet) Holmgren and (Victor) Wemanyama and hopefully Nurk for us, I think it’s a good thing.”
Not only did the team’s coaching staff drastically alter, but key roster changes were implemented as well.
Ryan Dunn, the 28th overall pick from Virginia, instantly emerged as a potential rotational piece for Phoenix during the preseason. Dunn was widely considered the best perimeter defender from this year’s draft class – but fell to the bottom of the first round due to his reluctance to shoot the basketball in college. Dunn attempted just 0.8 3-pointers per game in 65 appearances at Virginia.
Tyus Jones brings a new look to the Phoenix Suns’ backcourt as the potential missing piece to an NBA championship this season. (Photo by Emma Jeanson/Cronkite News)
However, in five preseason games with Phoenix, the 21-year-old forward shot over 40% from 3-point range on 30 attempts. He immediately becomes a pivotal rotational player for this Suns team if he maintains that pace during the regular season.
“Ryan (Dunn) specifically, just knowing players’ tendencies already, competing at the highest level,” Booker said when asked about what he has seen from Dunn thus far. “He’s young, he’s youthful, he has a lot of energy and he wants to compete.”
These adjustments, along with the team’s addition of point guards Tyus Jones and Monte Morris, give the Suns a different look this season.
Booker and Jones have competed with and against each other for almost two decades now. They were a part of the same high school class and NBA Draft class.
“I think that’s a hole (the point guard position) from last season that we have full now,” Booker said. “He’s (Tyus Jones) just a competitor, he does everything to win, he’s the type of guy you want to be on the court with. I’ve been alongside him and watched him play since we were in sixth, seventh grade, so I know what he’s capable of.”
As the Suns open the regular season with high expectations, all eyes are on the one calling the plays from the sideline.
“I’m excited about opening night, excited about the team getting to play and compete in games that are meaningful,” Budenholzer said ahead of Wednesday’s season opener.
