Suns fire head coach Mike Budenholzer

After a cataclysmic first season with his new team, the Phoenix Suns are parting ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania first reported Monday.

BREAKING: The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after finishing in 11th place with a 36-46 record in his one season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ocySLmWDQI

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2025

Here is the statement the Phoenix Suns released, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto:

“Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.”

OFFICIAL: The Phoenix Suns announced today that the organization has relieved head coach Mike Budenholzer of his duties.

The Suns released the following statement:
Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve…

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 14, 2025

The Suns have now fired three head coaches in three seasons. They parted ways with Monty Williams after 2022-23, Frank Vogel after last year and now Budenholzer, who experienced just two losing seasons in 10 seasons entering 2024-25.

The writing was on the wall for the 55-year-old after reportedly telling franchise player Devin booker to “tone it down” vocally amid the team’s struggles. You can’t do that in the NBA and expect to keep your job unless you have a massive amount of trust and respect within your organization–something that Budenholzer did not have.

Phoenix missed the play-in altogether after finishing 36-46, posting the NBA’s 13th-best offense with the fourth-worst defense, only better than the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards. They made slight moves around the fringes to try and alleviate that ahead of the deadline, but it did not work.

Now, all eyes point to what happens with Kevin Durant’s future. Well, we likely know he’s going to get traded, but it’s a matter of to who and for what … and if it will be enough to fix this sinking ship. They project to own the third-highest payroll next season at $219 million, $23 million above the first apron and $11 million above the second apron, according to Spotrac. They will need to build some sort of flexibility, and I would imagine they would look to trade Durant before parting ways with Booker, even though the latter is the more attractive asset.

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This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.

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