A huge new NBA rumor suggests the Phoenix Suns could be one-and-done with a head coach for the third straight season to keep their top stars happy.
The 2024-25 edition of the Suns has been one of the league’s biggest disappointments this season. After winning 49 games last season in their first full campaign with future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, the team would be lucky if they win 40 this year. Also, if the season ended today they would miss the 2025 NBA playoffs.
- Phoenix Suns record: 31-37
The Suns feature Durant, fellow superstar Devin Booker, and three-time All-Star Bradley Beal. The hope was that their surprising first-round ouster from last year’s postseason could be remedied by a head coach change to a man who has won it all before, Mike Budenholzer. Yet, they are worse this season with the former Milwaukee Bucks head coach.
The belief of many NBA pundits is this group is just a bad mix. Moving overpaid and oft-injured Beal would be the preferred source of change. Yet, there are no teams that want to take on his contract. That leaves either Booker or Durant as the odd man out. Because they couldn’t fire a head coach for a third straight season. Right?
Related: Phoenix Suns game today – Get details on the Suns next game
Mike Budenholzer coaching for his Phoenix Suns job the rest of the season right?
“The Phoenix Suns could fire head coach Mike Budenholzer in the offseason to appease stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker,” Hoops Wire claimed sources informed them this week.
Budenholzer is the club’s third coach in as many seasons. In 2022-23, Monty Williams was in his fourth season as head coach and a season removed from winning Coach of the Year. However, after only getting to the semifinals in the NBA playoffs with Durant on the team for half the season, he was ousted.
- Mike Budenholzer record (Career): 515-354
His replacement, Frank Vogel, was only able to take Durant, Booker, and Beal to the first round of last year’s postseason. The man who won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers during the pandemic was also done after one season. Firing Budenholzer would be the third straight coach fired in as many seasons. And the second is an NBA championship winner.
Related: Phoenix Suns owner adds fuel to NBA rumors Kevin Durant will be traded this summer