The Phoenix Suns have fired Mike Budenholzer.
ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania reported the firing on Monday afternoon via X.
“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,” Charania posted.
Bud’s firing — though arguably undeserved — came as a surprise to practically no one observing the NBA. Suns ownership has displayed zero shame in running through head coach after head coach. This is an organization in shambles, and quite frankly, Budenholzer will be better off somewhere else.
The 55-year-old head coach — who led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021 — entered a slimy situation when he took the Suns job last May. Phoenix’s front office ruined the team by sloppily throwing together three ball-dominant wings, including one player in Bradley Beal who represents the worst contract in the entire league.
Follow The Jugo Mobile on WhatsApp
Budenholzer deserves some degree of blame for losing the locker room in Phoenix, but in Bud’s defense, none of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, or Beal have shown during their careers that they are effective leaders or capable of uniting a locker room.
With Coach Bud now out the door, any Suns fans remaining (after an embarrassing season) will be left wondering who Phoenix will bring in to replace Budenholzer.
Expect the Suns to pursue recently-axed head coach Mike Malone at full speed. Malone, an NBA champion in his own right with the Denver Nuggets (2023), might also be sought after by the New York Knicks if they have a frustrating postseason and decide to cut ties with Tom Thibodeau.
Malone is a smart guy, though, so he’ll likely avoid signing on with the Suns, even if they offer him exorbitant amounts of money. Head coaching vacancies in Memphis, New York, or perhaps San Antonio would all be much better opportunities for Malone.
More NBA: Celtics offered Jaylen Brown, draft pick, plus this player for Kevin Durant
