For the third consecutive year, the Phoenix Suns are making a coaching change.
The Suns have made a major decision to part ways with Mike Budenholzer on Tuesday, April 15.
OFFICIAL: The Phoenix Suns announced today that the organization has relieved head coach Mike Budenholzer of his duties.
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 14, 2025
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…
This came after a disappointing Phoenix season that saw the team finish with a 36-46 record and miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
“Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve better. Change is needed,” the Suns said in a statement about the decision.
Budenholzer was Phoenix’s third coach in as many seasons – they dismissed Monty Williams in 2023 and Frank Vogel one year later – as the 55-year-old was expected to take a roster featuring a superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to contend in the stacked Western Conference.
The Suns will be looking for their fourth coach in four seasons:
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 14, 2025
?? 2022-23 — Monty Williams
?? 2023-24 — Frank Vogel
?? 2024-25 — Mike Budenholzer
?? 2025-26 — ???
Instead, the team fizzled out after a rousing 8-1 start that led to the Suns dropping nine of their last 10 games to miss the play-in tournament.
Durant, Booker, and Beal played only 37 games this season and Phoenix went 19-18 in those contests.
The two-time Coach of the Year winner became the fourth head tactician to get sacked this 2024-25 campaign season after Mike Brown, Taylor Jenkins, and Mike Malone.
[ALSO READ: Nuggets sack Mike Malone, GM Calvin Booth in another late-season shocker]
Before his stint in Phoenix, Budenholzer helped the Milwaukee Bucks claim the franchise’s first title in 2021 and compiled a 271-120 record in five seasons in Cream City.
Earlier, he steered the Atlanta Hawks to four playoff appearances in five years from 2014-2018 including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
