The Phoenix Suns have parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season at the helm. Despite boasting the league’s most expensive roster, the Suns failed to make both the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament. This marks the third consecutive year the franchise has fired its head coach. The Suns’ fall from grace has been steady since their appearance in the 2021 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Milwaukee Bucks—ironically coached at the time by Budenholzer.
Photo Cred: USA Today
The following season, Phoenix secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference but suffered a shocking second-round exit, losing Game 7 at home to the Dallas Mavericks. In 2023, they entered the playoffs as the fourth seed and were again eliminated in the second round. Last season, they finished as the sixth seed and were swept in the first round by the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves. Budenholzer was brought in last offseason on a five-year, $50 million contract.
In return, the Suns regressed significantly on the defensive end, finishing as one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Despite having three of the league’s top 10 highest-paid players—Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal—the roster has failed to live up to expectations. Injuries have been a major factor, but even when healthy, the team’s core has struggled to find chemistry.
Since joining Phoenix, Beal has yet to average more than 20 points per game—a mark he had surpassed every season since 2016–17. He still has two years and $111 million remaining on his contract. This coaching change is expected to be just the beginning of a busy offseason in Phoenix. The Suns are set to begin an extensive search for their next head coach, but perhaps more pressing is the future of Kevin Durant. The two-time Finals MVP was nearly traded at this past season’s deadline to his former team, the Golden State Warriors.
Photo Cred: USA Today
That deal was ultimately halted after Durant publicly expressed he had no interest in returning. With a bloated payroll, aging stars, and no clear direction, the Suns face a critical offseason that could define the trajectory of the franchise for years to come. The Suns give up a young core that went to a finals to blowing up the team and totally missing the playoffs and the play-in.
