Head Coach Mike Budenholzer has been fired by the Phoenix Suns after just one season. When he was hired in May of 2024, there was great excitement surrounding the direction of this Suns team. The roster looked poised to compete for championships immediately but that did not happen. For various reasons, the team underachieved significantly.
Mike Budenholzer’s Tenure
Budenholzer was hired on a five-year $50 million contract, replacing Frank Vogel. He brought in expectations to lead a star-studded roster to championship contention. The Suns finished 36-46 missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. The 2024-25 Suns had the NBA’s highest payroll. They finished 11th in the Western Conference.
2024-25 Performance
The lack of chemistry and injuries plagued this team and led to a dismal season. Injuries to stars like Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker were big reasons for the team’s failures. This trio played in only 37 games together achieving a 19-18 record during those games.
Organizational Instability
Budenholzer’s firing marks the third consecutive season the Suns have changed head coaches. Monty Williams was the first of the three to be let go. Moves like these reflect the current instability with the leadership of the Suns. There is no clear direction in which they would like to go.
Current Reactions
As of now, there have been mixed reactions to the firing of Budenholzer. Some fans blame the team’s struggles on players’ performance rather than coaching. There is a debate within the organization about systemic issues that continue to plague the team.
Offseason Plans
There is speculation that players such as Durant and Beal could be traded this offseason. Many believe that Durant will be traded this offseason. It is about what other teams are willing to give up to get him. The Suns hold the ninth-best odds in the NBA Draft lottery this year. This begs the question, will they be heading toward a rebuild?
Conclusion
With the decision to fire Budenholzer, it highlights the franchise’s urgency to find a championship formula. The Suns may need to consider what they have done and how they got here. They completely changed a roster that was young with homegrown talent that went to an NBA Finals.
The majority of those young players are no longer on the roster. They opted to get older instead of growing with drafted talent. In a short statement, the Suns said, “Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.”
