Suns coach Mike Budenholzer praises Devin Booker’s communication style after Haynes report

Coach Mike Budenholzer praised Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker’s communication style and took no issue with Booker’s comments after Thursday’s loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

“Devin and I have lots of conversations, so I think it’s super healthy,” Budenholzer said before Friday’s game against the Pelicans. “Devin’s care factor is off the charts. Devin always starts with himself. He’s always pushing all of us to be better.

“Devin’s awesome and his communication is awesome. His style is great … There’s conversations that Devin and I have all the time, and I’m good with those conversations. We don’t always agree on everything. I think he actually appreciates it, I appreciate it.”

Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer responds to the reports that he told Devin Booker to talk less. pic.twitter.com/SwhrQeK3sn

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 1, 2025

Budenholzer’s comments came after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported earlier on Friday that the Suns coach weeks ago called Booker into his office to tell him to tone it down vocally and allow for the coaching staff’s message to get through to the team.

According to Haynes, Booker was “completely shocked” by Budenholzer’s request.

Budenholzer addresses Booker’s postgame comments

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.”

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.

Budenholzer had no issue with Booker’s postgame comments and said Booker is “very vocal” and that’s a good thing.

“He’s a very upfront, very honest, he’s a very real person,” Budenholzer said before Friday’s game. “He and I have very real conversations. Usually anything he’s said, whether it be in here or somewhere else he’s probably said it to me 100 times, so communication and our team being together and our team being able to fight are all good messages.

“I’ve got all respect for Devin and his intellect, his understanding of what goes into winning, what’s important for winning. He’s a stud. He wants to win. He expects to win. And I think we should all be good that’s how he is.”

Pelicans-Suns tips off at 7 p.m. MST and can be heard on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app or online.

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