The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season, the team announced Monday, ending a short and disappointing tenure in the desert.
In a blunt statement, the Suns organization said, “Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.”
Budenholzer, who signed a five-year, $50 million deal in 2024 to take over a star-studded roster, leaves after a 36-46 campaign that saw Phoenix fall to 11th in the Western Conference and miss the playoffs entirely. It’s a shocking fall for a team that entered the season with three All-Stars—Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal—and sky-high expectations.
It also marks the third straight season the Suns have fired their head coach. After parting ways with Monty Williams in 2023 and Frank Vogel in 2024, new owner Mat Ishbia has now burned through three coaches in just over a year. Budenholzer, who previously won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, had hoped to engineer a quick turnaround in Phoenix. Instead, the team fell apart defensively, dropping to 28th in defensive efficiency after ranking 13th the previous season.
The Suns’ failures come despite fielding the most expensive roster in NBA history. The team paid out over $214 million in salaries and a whopping $150 million in luxury tax. Even with that financial firepower, Phoenix couldn’t avoid internal dysfunction, a lack of depth, and a steep defensive drop-off that doomed the team’s chances.
Kevin Durant’s health was another key storyline. The Suns went 33-29 in games Durant played but collapsed to 3-17 without him. That kind of dependency only highlighted the team’s lack of cohesion and depth. Meanwhile, Beal struggled to stay healthy and consistent, and the team never found a steady rhythm on either end of the floor.
Durant is expected to be at the center of trade rumors again this offseason, while Devin Booker remains the only “untouchable” player on the roster, according to reports. Still, it’s unclear how long Booker will remain content playing for an unstable organization. He’s now had seven head coaches in 10 seasons with the team.
Team president James Jones could also be next. His contract expires in June, and with Ishbia’s track record of swift moves, there’s a real possibility of a front office overhaul following Budenholzer’s exit.
Ishbia has made it clear he’s not afraid to make bold, expensive decisions to win. Now, after another wasted season and a bloated payroll, he’ll have to start from scratch again—this time without a head coach and with a roster full of expensive, aging stars and no postseason appearances to show for it.
Whoever takes over in Phoenix will inherit one of the most high-pressure jobs in the league, with little margin for error. And based on Ishbia’s short leash, they better win—fast.
