Phoenix Suns Fire Mike Budenholzer After Disappointing Season

The Phoenix Suns began the 2024-25 season with high hopes under coach Mike Budenholzer. However, the season concluded without a play-off spot, leading to Budenholzer's dismissal. The Suns announced on Monday that they were parting ways with Budenholzer after just one disappointing season. This decision came a day after the team ended with a 36-46 record.

Despite starting strong with an 8-1 record, the Suns faced challenges when Kevin Durant injured his calf in the ninth game. Without Durant, the team struggled significantly, managing only one win in seven games during his absence. Overall, Phoenix had a 33-29 record when Durant played but fell to 3-17 without him.

The Suns' performance dipped towards the end of the season, losing nine of their last ten games. This slump resulted in an 11th-place finish in the Western Conference, missing out on the Play-In Tournament by three games. The team's statement acknowledged their failure to meet expectations and emphasised that change was necessary for improvement.

Mike Budenholzer was hired by Phoenix in May after a successful tenure with Milwaukee, where he won an NBA title in 2021. The Suns hoped his experience would guide their star-studded roster, including Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, back to the NBA Finals.

Budenholzer's coaching career spans several teams, including the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. Over 11 seasons as an NBA coach, he has amassed a career record of 520-363. His time with Milwaukee was particularly notable for winning an NBA championship against Phoenix in six games during the 2021 Finals.

Throughout this season, Durant, Booker, and Beal played together in less than half of Phoenix's games. They shared the court only 37 times due to various challenges and injuries affecting team dynamics and performance.

The Suns had previously achieved a 49-33 record last season before bringing in Budenholzer as head coach. The franchise aimed for him to leverage his expertise to maximise their high-priced roster's potential and return to championship contention.

As they look ahead to future seasons, Phoenix remains committed to competing at top levels and fulfilling fan expectations through necessary changes within their organisation.