The Phoenix Suns are now officially ineligible to enter the NBA’s contention picture after an eighth successive loss.
It’s been a season filled with disappointments for the entire franchise. The star power of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal has not been enough to save the Phoenix Suns from a woeful year.
Amid trade speculation, reported locker room tensions, and injury struggles, the Suns have arguably been the most disappointing team in the NBA.
Their 125-112 home loss on April 9 against the league’s best in Oklahoma City Thunder saw the team officially eliminated from making it to the 2025 Play-In Tournament.
Upon this upsetting season finish, there is increasing uncertainty over head coach Mike Budenholzer, just one year into his role.
Budenholzer, who was hired by the franchise from last summer in a reported five-year deal, failed in his primary objective to lead the Suns to a title, let alone a postseason appearance this 2024-25.
Speaking right after their depressing loss against OKC, Budenholzer was honest when asked if he had conversations with Suns governor Mat Ishbia about still returning to the team.
“No,” he said. “Like I said, it’s raw. We just lost. It’s been a tough season.
“There’s been no conversations. So we’ll process this and we’ll figure out how we can be better.”
Infamously, the Suns hired Frank Vogel as the team’s coach in the summer 2023 on a reported five-year, $31 million deal.
Yet after leading the Suns to 49-33 record while ultimately being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs, the franchise brass decided to dismiss him and went on to appoint Budenholzer as a replacement.
We can only wait and see how the Suns would act this time toward Budenholzer. The entire team definitely needs a massive revamp from top to bottom.
Whatever might be about to unfold, the Suns cannot run it back with the same roster and coaching staff, something needs to change.
