The Phoenix Suns are once again in search of a head coach after firing Mike Budenholzer just one season into his tenure. The team concluded the year with a disappointing 36-46 record, finishing in 11th place in the Western Conference.

“Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season,” the team conveyed via a social media statement. “Our fans deserve better. Change is needed.”

Budenholzer was the third head coach for the Suns in three seasons, taking over from Frank Vogel after the team was eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs last year.

Despite the return of stars like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, the Suns experienced a significant decline from their previous season when they finished with 48 wins. They began the current season strong with an 8-1 record but quickly fell to .500 by late December, culminating in a 1-9 skid to end the season, which also featured Durant missing the final seven games.

Amidst their on-court struggles, internal tensions surfaced, with Jusuf Nurkic expressing that he had not communicated with Budenholzer for two months prior to being traded. Reports also surfaced that Beal refused to waive his no-trade clause amid trade speculations.

Moreover, there were discussions surrounding potential trades involving Durant, which could have indicated a drastic shift in the team’s strategy, one that has seen them become one of the most expensive franchises in NBA history. Since Mat Ishbia became the owner in February 2023, the Suns have maintained a significant payroll, culminating in a $366.6 million expenditure this season, with luxury taxes included.

Ultimately, this underwhelming performance led the Suns to miss out on the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, prompting them to look for a fourth head coach within four years. Budenholzer records a career mark of 520-363 over 11 seasons across the Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns, earning a five-year deal rumored to be worth $50 million last year.