NBA Champion expected to be named new Phoenix Suns head coach

It didn’t take long to decide on a replacement for Frank Vogel. Just hours after firing Vogel, Team Owner Mat Ishbia and General Manager James Jones have reportedly zeroed in on Mike Budenholzer as their No. 1 option to be the next Phoenix Suns head coach.

Vogel was hired last offseason to replace Monty Williams but was fired Thursday after only 11 months on the job. Whether it’s Budenholzer or someone else, the Suns’ next coach will be their third in as many seasons, all since Ishbia purchased the team in December 2022.

Mike Budenhozler, Phoenix Suns ‘expected to move rapidly toward a deal’

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday evening that Phoenix quickly identified Budenholzer as their top target and that he’s already working to put together a staff.

Mike Budenholzer is emerging as the frontrunner to become the Phoenix Suns’ next coach, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/chkIqrwxnP

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024

The 54-year-old is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year (2014-15 and 2017-18). He went 271-120 in five seasons as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, leading the franchise to its first championship in 50 years. He was fired at the end of the 2022-23 season after a first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat.

Budenholzer was 213-197 as coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2014-2018. He led the Hawks to a franchise-record 60 wins, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and a conference finals appearance in 2014-15.

Phoenix is coming off a season in which it failed to live up to expectations. Despite having the trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (and a $200 million-plus payroll), the Suns finished sixth in the Western Conference and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Budenholzer would be under pressure to compete for a championship immediately if he’s hired.

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