Suns fire Budenholzer after 1 season

The Phoenix Suns announced Monday they fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after just one season.

Phoenix fell well short of expectations this campaign, finishing 36-46 and missing the playoffs with the most expensive roster in the NBA.

"Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season," the Suns said in a statement. "Our fans deserve better. Change is needed."

Budenholzer signed a five-year deal worth more than $50 million last May to replace Frank Vogel, who was also fired after a single season.

Phoenix will now look for its third head coach in three seasons after dismissing Monty Williams following the 2022-23 campaign.

The Suns went 10-18 after the All-Star break and 1-9 in their final 10 games to fall out of the play-in tournament. They also went 12-32 against teams with a .500 record or better.

Budenholzer reportedly had issues connecting with the Suns' locker room this season, and the roster failed to respond to him, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. His inability to coexist with the players reportedly centered around star Devin Booker.

The Suns are expected to retool around Booker this offseason and will reportedly look to trade Kevin Durant and have discussions about the future of Bradley Beal.

Durant seemed to be a difference-maker for Phoenix this campaign. The Suns went 33-29 when he was in the lineup and 3-17 without him. He missed their final seven games with an ankle sprain.

Phoenix is just the third team in NBA history to begin a season 8-1 and miss the playoffs. One of the Suns' worst stretches this season came across March and April when they lost a franchise-worst eight consecutive games by double digits.