Report: Suns hiring Budenholzer as head coach

The Phoenix Suns are hiring former Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks bench boss Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania on Friday.

The team dismissed Frank Vogel on Thursday after one season at the helm.

Budenholzer's deal is expected to approach eight figures annually in salary, reports Charania.

The 54-year-old took one season off from coaching after the Bucks fired him following a disappointing first-round exit versus the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.

In 10 seasons as a head coach, Budenholzer has led his teams to nine playoff appearances and an NBA championship with the Bucks in 2021. His teams have won 50-plus games in five separate campaigns. His overall record as a coach is 484-317.

Prior to his tenure as a head coach, Budenholzer spent 17 seasons as an assistant with Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs.

Budenholzer was also linked to the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching opening after Darvin Ham was relieved of his duties.

Vogel was fired after the Suns' recently assembled Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal got swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs.