Phoenix Suns Fire Coach Mike Budenholzer After Failed NBA Season

The Phoenix Suns have parted ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer following an unsuccessful season that left them out of the NBA play-in tournament. Despite having one of the NBA’s strongest trios—Durant, Booker, and Ayton—Budenholzer was unable to find the right balance and chemistry needed to lead the team into the playoffs, finishing the regular season with a 36-46 record. Just a day after the regular season concluded, the Suns’ management announced the termination of their collaboration with Budenholzer, who previously coached Giannis Antetokounmpo to the 2021 championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. They are already in the process of interviewing candidates for his replacement. In a statement on Monday (April 14, 2025), the team emphasized, “Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we did not meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is necessary.” The Suns finished 11th in the Western Conference, three wins short of the play-in tournament, marking Budenholzer’s only season as their head coach. He was hired to replace Frank Vogel, who was also fired last year after one season. This move marks the fourth head coach in four seasons and the eighth since the 2015/16 campaign, coinciding with Devin Booker’s rookie year. Additionally, the Suns may entertain offers for Durant this summer and must decide how to handle Bill’s $110 million contract over the next two years, while Durant has $54.7 million remaining for the 2025-26 season, the final year of his current deal.