New Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer cannot wait to reunite with a familiar face in the Valley in guard Grayson Allen.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Allen spent two years under Budenholzer in Milwaukee from 2021-23, starting 131 of his 138 games played. He was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in August 2021, just a couple weeks after the Bucks defeated the Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals under Budenholzer.
“There’s so many great players that I’ve had the good fortune to be around, but he’s right up there,” Budenholzer said of Allen at his introductory press conference on May 17. “I love that guy. I love his toughness, I love his competitiveness.”
Budenholzer and Allen were never able to replicate these championship heights together in Milwaukee, as Budenholzer was fired after five seasons with the team on May 4, 2023 after the Bucks lost in the first round to the Miami Heat.
Just as it looked like Allen would remain in Milwaukee for at least one more season, the Suns acquired the 28-year-old from the Bucks on Sept. 27, 2023 in the Deandre Ayton/Damian Lillard trade.
Allen took his game to the next level in Phoenix, as he finished his first regular season with the Suns averaging 13.5 points on 50/46/88 shooting splits, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game across 75 contests (74 starts), which means he tied or set a career high in literally every major statistical category. He also led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 46.1%.
After taking one year off coaching, Budenholzer was hired to be the 22nd head coach of the Suns on May 11. Fortunately for him, Allen will not be going anywhere, as he inked a four-year, $70 million extension with the Suns on April 16 after his career year.
“I’m not surprised at all by Grayson,” Budenholzer said of Allen’s big season. “The way he was able to take his shooting to that next level this year, I wasn’t surprised. I was just very, very happy for him, to be honest with you.”
In addition to their already-established relationship, keeping the best 3-point shooter by percentage plays right into Budenholzer’s strategy of wanting to be a “high-volume 3-point team.”
Allen, who has played for four NBA teams in his six NBA seasons, had only made just north of $28 million for his whole career before the extension, which ties him to Phoenix until the 2027-28 season. He also cannot be traded until October.
Grayson Allen: “I've been traded 3 times … Now that I'm here in Phoenix, in a great city, in a great organization, I'm very grateful that, first of all, they wanted me and traded for me, that they believed in me all year … now (there’s) a dollar number in that belief.” #Suns https://t.co/RpEPFUkIqd pic.twitter.com/oPYXu8kHzA
— Burn City Suns Talk ????️ (@BurnCitySuns) April 16, 2024
Safe to say, Budenholzer is looking forward to working with Allen again and hoping to bring his hometown Suns and Allen their first championship ring.
“He’s earned a great contract and extension with us,” Budenholzer said. “He and I have been talking and laughing, and I think we probably never wanted to be separated. Now we’re back together, and it’s pretty cool.”
Mike Budenholzer gives emotional response about his year away from coaching
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
