It's rare to see a coach cry during his induction press conference. But for Mike Budenholzer, the emotion was much too strong. In the room, there were his friends but also his family, including his father, Vince, aged 94. Why such emotion? Because the Budenholzer camp is from Arizona, and in the family, we are coaches, from father to son.
“It’s mind-boggling for me to imagine that I’m going to become the coach of the Phoenix Suns” launches the former Bucks coach. “The most important message I want to give you is that I would have coached this team even if it had been on the moon. I would have coached this team if it had been in Alaska or if the players were in Denmark. …I would have gone anywhere to coach this team! “.
How to get the best from the Beal-Booker-Durant trio
Twice Coach Of The Year, with Atlanta and Milwaukee, Budenholzer will have to play alchemists and get the best out of the trio composed of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. With very little room for maneuver since finances are already in the red.
“I look forward to working with this team and these players. We have very great players. And with very great players, there are very high expectations. You have to accept it” he continues. “I hope James (Jones), Josh (Bartelstein) and Mat (Ishbia) know that my most important job is to make these players better, to make them perform at their best. It's clear that Devin, Kevin and Brad know what they're going to bring to me every night, with all due respect. It's a question of vitamins, of daily work. It’s giving (all the players) time to work on their craft, on their physique, on the videos, it’s giving them confidence. This is a big priority for us on the staff. »
In terms of the workforce, there is obviously the need for a playmaker. Neither Beal nor Booker can start the match at position 1, and take care of the management of attacks, and defend on the opposing leader . It's another role, and Budenholzer knows he'll have to find a true playmaker.
Do you need a playmaker?
“The discussions have been excellent and there is no doubt that we need to look at the whole squad and talk about the playmaker” recognizes Mike Budenholzer. “I'm sure it's a hot topic here, whether it's with you, the media, the players, the front office. We have to think about it. We have to be able to play without it. We should probably have one. We must be versatile. We have to play in different ways: bigger, smaller. I think the point guard position has its place. »
But first, the top priority is to create initial links with your “Big Three”. A large part of the success of the Suns will depend on their understanding and mutual respect. “They're kind of junkies, and it was nice to see Devin, Brad and Kevin. It will be crucial (to build relationships with them) in the future,” concludes Budenholzer. “These exchanges are private and they are important to me. The openness that these three guys had with me and shared with me was great. I hope they know they have a coach who will listen to them, who values their experience and their knowledge. … I would simply say that the discussions are very healthy, very respectful in both directions. »
