Mike Budenholzer hired as next Phoenix Suns head coach

Mike Budenholzer has been hired as the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He has reportedly received a five-year, $50-plus million contract. Shams Charania of The Athletic broke the news, tweeting:

Mike Budenholzer has agreed to terms on a five-year, $50-plus million deal to become the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns land the two-time NBA Coach of the Year and Arizona native. pic.twitter.com/FknlqMY6nD

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2024

Budenholzer broke into the NBA as a video coordinator with the San Antonio Spurs during the 1994-95 season. He was promoted to an assistant coach when Gregg Popovich was named San Antonio’s head coach two years later. He remained in that role until the 2013-14 season, when he was named head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

Budenholzer led the franchise to a 213-197 record in five seasons and was named the 2015 Coach of the Year. He also served as the president of basketball operations for two seasons. After mutually parting ways, he was named as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Budenholzer spent five years in the role, leading the team to a 271-120 record. He was named the 2019 Coach of the Year and helped the franchise win their second championship in 2021.

Mike Budenholzer was named as the Phoenix Suns’ top candidate immediately after Frank Vogel firing

The Phoenix Suns decision to hire Mike Budenholzer should not come as a surprise. After waiting nearly two weeks to make a decision on Frank Vogel’s future, the organization fired the head coach on Thursday. He lasted just one season in the role, leading the team to a 49-33 record.

Despite championship aspirations after trading for Bradley Beal – and pairing him with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker – the Suns were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round. Adrian Wojnarowski announced the coaching change, noting that the Budenholzer was expected to play a prominent role in Phoenix’s head coaching search, tweeting:

ESPN Sources: The Phoenix Suns dismissed coach Frank Vogel. The Suns — who won 49 regular-season games with league’s third-highest payroll and tax — were swept in opening-round series to Timberwolves. Mike Budenholzer will be prominent part of search. pic.twitter.com/SDTRkXxkrG

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 9, 2024

Budenholzer has had success in each of his previous stints as a head coach. He will be under immense pressure, however, as he looks to turn things around with limited assets in Phoenix.

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