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The Phoenix Sunsparted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer on Monday and one of the reported reasons was due to a disconnect with his players.
Budenholzer last less than one season as head coach of the Suns but one of the reasons why he was an attractive candidate for the position is because he helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to win a title in 2021. The two leading scorers on the team were Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Their third scoring option, Jrue Holiday, was just as integral to their championship run.
According to Chris Haynes, earlier this season, Budenholzer told Beal that he should play like Holiday did for him in Milwaukee.
Here is more from Haynes:
"League sources told me earlier in the season, coach Budenholzer met with Bradley Beal. He told Bradley Beal he wanted him to be the Jrue Holiday of this team ... It wasn't well-received."
Beal, like Holiday was with Antetokounmpo and Middleton, ranked third in scoring for his team behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Holiday has gone on to win another NBA championship (now with the Celtics) and two Olympic gold medals for Team USA playing more of a complimentary role on offense.
Beal, however, was reportedly offended at the idea of modeling his game after a different player.
The three-time All-Star played about one-third of his games this season not in the starting lineup for the Suns.
He made $50.2 million this season and will make nearly $54.0 million next season.
Beal also has a player option for $57.1 million in 2026-27 and a no-trade clause.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bradley Beal was upset Mike Budenholzer asked him to play like Jrue Holiday
Continue reading...
Budenholzer last less than one season as head coach of the Suns but one of the reasons why he was an attractive candidate for the position is because he helped lead the Milwaukee Bucks to win a title in 2021. The two leading scorers on the team were Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Their third scoring option, Jrue Holiday, was just as integral to their championship run.
According to Chris Haynes, earlier this season, Budenholzer told Beal that he should play like Holiday did for him in Milwaukee.
Here is more from Haynes:
"League sources told me earlier in the season, coach Budenholzer met with Bradley Beal. He told Bradley Beal he wanted him to be the Jrue Holiday of this team ... It wasn't well-received."
Beal, like Holiday was with Antetokounmpo and Middleton, ranked third in scoring for his team behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
Holiday has gone on to win another NBA championship (now with the Celtics) and two Olympic gold medals for Team USA playing more of a complimentary role on offense.
Beal, however, was reportedly offended at the idea of modeling his game after a different player.
The three-time All-Star played about one-third of his games this season not in the starting lineup for the Suns.
He made $50.2 million this season and will make nearly $54.0 million next season.
Beal also has a player option for $57.1 million in 2026-27 and a no-trade clause.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bradley Beal was upset Mike Budenholzer asked him to play like Jrue Holiday
Continue reading...
