The Phoenix Suns fired head coach Mike Budenholzer on Monday after just one year in- charge.
Despite the presence of star players Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal on the team, the Suns endured a poor season under Budenholzer, finishing with a 36-46 record.
That saw them finish the regular season 11th in the Western Conference, failing to make the play-offs and even the play-in tournament.
“Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season,” the Suns said in a short statement. “Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.”
Budenholzer took charge of Phoenix ahead of the 2024-25 season, having spent five years with the Milwaukee Bucks, which included winning the NBA championship in the 2020-21 season.
After replacing Frank Vogel in Phoenix, the 55-year-old had a promising start to his tenure in the Copper State, going 8-1 to start the season.
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Expectations were high with the Suns boasting the most expensive roster in the league, per Spotrac, but the team’s form dipped as the year wore on, culminating in an eight-game losing streak in March and April – all by double digits.
The winless run came to an end against the San Antonio Spurs last week, the Suns’ penultimate game of the season before a defeat to the Sacramento Kings, but at that point, they had already been eliminated from play-off contention.
According to ESPN, the Suns are the third team in NBA history to start the season with an 8-1 record or better and then fail to make the playoffs.
The NBA play-in tournament begins on Tuesday with eight teams vying for four spots in this season’s play-offs.
