After the Phoenix Suns failed to advance to the second Western Conference Playoffs, the franchise fired Frank Vogel. He coached the Suns through one season (2023-24). A team with elite players like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal losing in the first round of the playoffs series against the Minnesota Timberwolves says a lot about the former coach’s season.
Though some NBA spectators couldn’t believe the decision, the dismissal of Frank Vogel from the franchise has become more accepted. Thus, the Phoenix Suns are maintaining their standards as an NBA title contender. The franchise hired Mike Budenholzer who won the 2021 NBA Championship title with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Who could be Mike Budenholzer’s assistant head coach?
The Phoenix Suns Assistant Head Coach For The 2024-25 NBA Season
Darvin Ham, the current assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, ruled out becoming Mike Budenholzer’s trusted assistant head coach at the Suns. Thus, Budenholzer decided to continue his search for an outstanding assistant.
As per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Pete Thamel, the two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year and the University of Washington’s former head coach, Mike Hopkins, would be the Phoenix Suns’ assistant head coach for the 2024-25 NBA Season. Also, Hopkins will join others on the coaching staff like former NBA Head Coach David Fizdale and longtime NBA assistant coach Chad Forcier. Budenholzer has assembled quite the coaching staff in Phoenix.
Mike Hopkins’ basketball career as a head coach and assistant head coach glitters like gold. Also, his career portrays promising coaching skills that could help the current Suns head coach and franchise achieve their lofty goals.
How Mike Hopkins and Mike Budenholzer Could Lead The Suns To Victory
Who knows what the Suns’ combinations could offer the Phoenix franchise? The Suns are aggressively on the hunt for any team standing in their way as they look to be the 2025 NBA champion. They believe their “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal have them set up well to do just that.
Mike Budenholzer led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals against the Phoenix Suns in 2021 and helped his former franchise win their first title since 1971. With this victory, Budenholzer should know how to handle a team of All-Star basketball players and provide results with his coaching skills. Thus, signing a contract deal with a former NBA champ as their head coach should be a no-brainer.
Mike Hopkins Career Summary
Mike Hopkins had an incredible start at the Washington Huskies as he won the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in his first two seasons with the team. Before joining the Huskies in May 2017, he was an assistant coach to Jim Boeheim at Syracuse. Therefore, his coaching experience is solid as the University of Washington had a record of 122-111 (.526) throughout his college coaching tenure,
Aside from his records as a college basketball coach, the 54-year-old coached decorated youngsters like Jaden McDaniels of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons, and Matisse Thybulle from the Portland Trail Blazers at the Washington Huskies. With his coaching experience, Hopkins could groom NBA youngsters into becoming NBA All-Stars which should be the long-term goal of the Phoenix Suns.
Therefore, Mike Budenholzer’s role as the head coach should be to lead the franchise to their next playoff berth. Also, Budenholzer hiring Mike Hopkins as his assistant should help maintain a sustainable winning culture at the Suns as he grooms the team’s youngsters.
About the Author
Wisdom is an email and brand copywriter with two years of content writing experience. He started Cloud Kitchen Concept to help startups and business owners elevate their brands from good to great. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram to enjoy cooked meals for your business’s growth.
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