Suns fire coach Mike Budenholzer after one season

Budenholzer becomes the second straight Suns coach to be fired after just one season, joining Frank Vogel last year. Vogel replaced Monty Williams, meaning the Suns are set for their fourth coach in four years.

“A year after 49 wins, the sixth seed and the No. 13 ranked defense, the Suns plummeted to third-worst in the NBA on defense and went 10-18 after the All-Star break,” Charania wrote. “For the third straight offseason, Phoenix is changing coaches.”

Hoops Wire reported in March that the Suns could fire Budenholzer to appease Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. 

Booker has spent his entire career with the Suns, while Durant was traded to Phoenix in February 2023.

The Golden State Warriors had a deal to acquire Durant at this year’s NBA trade deadline, but the future Hall of Famer blocked it because he didn’t want to get traded “midway through the season.”

“I just didn’t wanna get traded midway through the season,” Durant told NBA reporter Malika Andrews of ESPN. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors. Or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond (Green). At the end of the day, I just didn’t wanna move and I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix and see what we can do through the rest of the season. So I’m glad I’m still there.”

Most people believe Durant will be traded this summer, but sources told Hoops Wire that the two-time Finals MVP enjoys playing with Booker and living in Phoenix.

(Ashish Mathur contributed to this report.)