Just one year after being hired to lead a star-studded roster, Mike Budenholzer is out as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. According to reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the team fired Budenholzer following a massively underwhelming 36-46 campaign that saw Phoenix finish 11th in the Western Conference, missing the Play-In Tournament entirely.
A Steep Fall from Contender Status
The Suns entered the 2024-25 season with sky-high expectations. Despite being just a year removed from a 49-win season, the sixth seed in the West, and the league’s 13th-ranked defense, this season was a complete unraveling. Phoenix posted the third-worst defense in the NBA and collapsed down the stretch, going 10-18 after the All-Star break.
Even with a roster that included Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, the Suns never found a rhythm. Injuries, poor spacing, lack of depth, and serious defensive issues plagued the team from start to finish. Budenholzer, who won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, couldn’t steer this ship.
Third Coach in Three Offseasons
This marks the third consecutive offseason Phoenix will enter with a coaching vacancy. After parting ways with Monty Williams in 2023 and moving on from Frank Vogel in 2024, the Suns are now looking to fill the position yet again in 2025. That’s a level of instability that doesn’t often lead to championships — even for teams with big-name talent.
What’s Next for the Suns?
General Manager James Jones now faces the critical challenge of finding a coach who can actually make the Durant-Booker-Beal trio work — assuming the roster stays intact. With Durant approaching 37 years old and major cap hits limiting flexibility, the Suns are quickly approaching a make-or-break year for this current era.
If another coaching change doesn’t work, it might be time to consider a roster shake-up instead.
