The Phoenix Suns have seen coaching turnover over the past three years. They fired Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer during this span. Monty Williams was fired after four seasons with the Suns. Followed by Frank Vogel, and now Mike Budenholzer has been fired after just one season. The issue with these firings is that all three coaches have demonstrated their ability to lead successful teams. Notably, Vogel steered the Lakers to a championship victory in the 2020 NBA Bubble. At the same time, Budenholzer’s Milwaukee Bucks defeated Monty Williams’ Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Championship.
Proceed with caution
With the Phoenix Suns’ head coaching position still open, I would advise any candidates to proceed cautiously. Johnnie Bryant and Jordan Ott, both currently serving as assistant coaches for the Cleveland Cavaliers, are among those being considered for the Suns’ head coaching role. However, this job could pose significant risks for their coaching careers.
I’m concerned about the Suns having Kevin Durant on their roster. I doubt that Durant will respect a rookie coach, as he hasn’t shown respect for any of the six coaches he’s had since leaving the Warriors: Kenny Atkinson, Steve Nash, Jacque Vaughn, Monty Williams, Frank Vogel, or Mike Budenholzer. If he had respected them, they likely wouldn’t have been fired. In fact, according to my sources, Durant played a role in some of these coaches losing their jobs. Given this, I question how either of the new coaches could change anything. If a coach like Mike Budenholzer, who had a remarkable record of 271-120 in Milwaukee, can be fired after just one season, then a rookie coach shouldn’t even bother unpacking his bags. The odds of success in Phoenix are slim, so unless the Suns trade Durant, I wouldn’t waste my time.
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