A day after firing Frank Vogel, the Phoenix Suns are reportedly hiring 2-time NBA coach Mike Budenholzer.
PHOENIX (AP) – Mike Budenholzer has agreed to coach the Phoenix SunsAccording to multiple reports, the franchise is shifting to whoever beats them in the 2021 NBA Finals.
54 years old Budenholzer replaces Frank Vogel, who was fired Thursday after one season. Both ESPN and The Athletic reported that Budenholzer’s contract was for five years.
Mike Budenholzer has agreed to a five-year, $50-plus million contract as the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns, according to league sources. @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns is a two-time NBA coach of the year and hails from Arizona. pic.twitter.com/FknlqMY6nD
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2024
Budenholzer – from Holbrook, Arizona – Coached the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 as they roared back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Suns in the Finals.
Phoenix has never won a championship, advancing to the Finals three times in 56 seasons.
The veteran coach will be charged with getting the most out of the team’s All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The team has never been consistent under Vogel, finishing with a 49-33 record last season before losing to Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
Budenholzer was fired by the Bucks in 2023 after five seasons And was not an NBA coach last season. He coached the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018 and had a 484-317 record in 10 seasons.
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