The Phoenix Suns are headed for the fourth coach in as many seasons under owner Mat Ishbia.
The Suns on Monday dismissed head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season, a person with knowledge of the move confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the team announced the decision.
Budenholzer was Phoenix’s third coach in as many seasons – they fired Monty Williams after the 2022-23 season and Frank Vogel after the 2023-24 seasons – and he was expected to take a roster featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal and make the Suns a competitor in the Western Conference.
That didn’t happen. The Suns, who had the highest payroll in the NBA this season, finished 36-46 and missed the playoffs, the play-in game format included. They lost nine of their final 10 games, including eight consecutive when they were in the playoff hunt with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
That might not be the only major change for the Suns. General manager James Jones has been with the team since 2017 but was not Ishbia’s hire, and it is expected that Durant seeks a new team though he has one season at $54.7 million remaining on his contract.
Budenholzer, who was born and grew up in Arizona and was a Suns fan, is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2019 with Milwaukee and in 2015 with Atlanta. But he couldn’t find answers with the Suns. He led the Bucks to a title in 2021.
However, Budenholzer’s demanding style can be difficult to play for – he had a shelf life that expired with both Atlanta and Milwaukee despite success with both teams.
Durant, Booker and Beal played in just 37 games together, going 19-18, and Phoenix was one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranking No. 27 and allowing 117.7 points per 100 possessions.
Ishbia wants a contender, but the constant change in coaching staffs and a poorly constructed roster have not resulted in success.