Suns HC Budenholzer Calls Jusuf Nurkić 'a Pro' After Benching amid NBA Trade Rumors

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer expects veteran center Jusuf Nurkić to answer the call in the event he's inserted back into the team's lineup.

Nurkić didn't see the floor in the Suns' 114-106 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday, his second straight healthy scratch.

"He's a pro," Budenholzer told reporters of the big man. "He's got to be ready. Everybody is earning their minutes. Everybody is earning their opportunities. We're going to need everybody as we go through the season."

Nurkić missed three games through suspension to close out December and through the start of this month. Once he was eligible to play again, Budenholzer brought him off the bench in a 109-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 6.

It was the first time since 2016-17 the 7-footer was used in a reserve role. Now, he's not even seeing the court at all.

Budenholzer's decision is understandable when looking at the numbers. Nurkić is averaging just 8.6 points on 45.5 percent shooting along with 9.2 rebounds. The Suns have also maintained a minus-6.5 net rating with him on the floor, per NBA.com.

Demoting a longtime starter always risks creating a difficult dynamic within the locker room, though, and offloading Nurkić becomes harder for Phoenix when he isn't playing. The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin reported in December the team was "actively looking" to trade him.

At the end of the day, Budenholzer is tasked with doing what he believes is best for the Suns, who need a spark of some sort as they sit 11th in the Western Conference at 18-19.

Considering Phoenix has won three of its last four games with Mason Plumlee as the starting center and Nurkić on the bench, the experiment may not be ending anytime soon.