Three coaches, 3 years: Trend on why no one lasts in Phoenix

PHOENIX — Another season, another head coach gone in Phoenix.

The Suns fired Mike Budenholzer on Monday morning, marking the third straight year the franchise has parted ways with its head coach after just one season. From Monty Williams in 2023, to Frank Vogel in 2024, to Budenholzer in 2025 — the cycle has become predictable, and the message increasingly clear: no mistake allowed.

What once felt like a coveted job — leading a star-studded roster with championship aspirations — is beginning to look like one of the NBA’s most thankless gigs. Unless you’re cool with collecting a paycheck to sit on the beach for three seasons after coaching for one, this probably isn’t the opportunity for you.

In fact, only one player remains from Phoenix’s 2021 Finals run: Devin Booker. The Suns have spent aggressively and moved pieces constantly, but the identity and chemistry haven’t caught up. Kevin Durant is reportedly unhappy, Bradley Beal has yet to make a meaningful impact, and Booker — while still elite — hasn’t had enough around him to carry a contender on his own.

Budenholzer, who won a title in Milwaukee and brought structure and accountability, didn’t even get time to fully install his system. In Phoenix, “immediate results” isn’t a preference — it’s a demand. And when the bar isn’t reached, heads roll. Again and again.

The next head coach will inherit a roster with no cap space, high expectations, minimal flexibility, and a fanbase growing restless. It’s a high-risk job with little patience and even less margin for error.

For a franchise that once felt on the brink of sustained greatness, the Suns are now defined by instability — not success.