Report: Suns coach Mike Budenholzer asked Devin Booker to tone it down vocally

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker was asked by head coach Mike Budenholzer weeks ago to tone down his chatter and allow for the coaching staff’s message to get through, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.

The report came after Booker and fellow star Kevin Durant appeared to be tip-toeing around some type of internal disagreement following a loss to the 16-43 New Orleans Pelicans, a rare road win for the struggling team.

“I was told that weeks ago, Mike Budenholzer called his star guard, Devin Booker, into his office to issue a complaint,” Haynes said on a post to his X account. “And that complaint, I am told, is that Booker was being too vocal on the court and during timeout huddles.

“(Budenholzer) implored his star guard to tone it down to allow for the coach’s voice to be heard. This completely shocked Booker, I was told.”

Sources: Weeks ago Suns coach Mike Budenholzer called a meeting with Devin Booker imploring he tone it down vocally, leaving the star shocked. Inside that meeting which provides context to Booker’s postgame remarks on communicating. #haynesbriefs

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— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) February 28, 2025

What did Devin Booker and Mike Budenholzer say after Suns’ loss to Pelicans?

After the Suns lost, 124-116, to the Pelicans at PHX Arena on Thursday, Booker was asked to assess how Phoenix finds itself below .500 and chasing a play-in spot.

“I’d say it could be fixed with just a little more talking, I would say,” Booker said. “Things get tough, we get quiet as a team. And from my experience and from what I’ve seen, that’s not a way to get through it.

“I’d say just skipping over the details and always taking the ‘get-em-next-game’ mentality. At some point, you got to draw a line. Should have been drawn a long time ago.”

Booker said that the communication starts with himself, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Budenholzer.

He added that he’d “rather two people say the wrong thing to each other” than not talk at all out on the court at risk of leaving any grey area. And despite a game plan being in place, Booker believes navigating tweaks during a game is an important thing. It takes communication.

Asked if he regrets not drawing a line earlier, Booker added this:

“I always look at myself first. But I also talk a lot,” he said.

Durant also avoided creating controversy when asked about Budenholzer’s comment that the Suns should attempt to remain optimistic with a 27-32 record while being 3.5 games out of the last play-in spot and No. 10 seed.

“I don’t want to say the wrong thing and people take it out of context so I’m going to just agree that we got to be better,” Durant said.

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