The Phoenix Suns continue to search for the perfect head coach to take them into what it is hoped will be a better season in 2025-25, with owner Mat Ishbia and new General Manager Brian Gregory telling everybody who will listen that this process is going to take some time. That has certainly been the case to this point, with no less than 15 candidates interviewed during phase one.
As speculation mounts on who the next leading man should be, fans and media members alike appear to be aligned on at least one crucial aspect of the hire. It should be a first time head coach, who can grow with Devin Booker and the roster in place, as opposed to another veteran who has one elsewhere and is less compromising on their philosophy.
Suns fans should be terrified by coach who has advanced in talks.
Chris Haynes took to his "Haynes Briefs" show on YouTube Sunday, to speak about the fact the Suns have entered what he called the "Elite 8" phase of their coaching search. Which is... a kind of corny way of describing this hire, because it's not like they're trying to replace Phil Jackson, or even Steve Kerr. Remember, this team won 36 games during the regular season, after starting out 8-1.
Sources: On Haynes Briefs, reporting on the Phoenix Suns narrowing the coaching search to the Elite 8 of candidates. Identifying the candidates and what the franchise is looking for. #haynesbriefs https://t.co/qAoZ2HFRqA
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 18, 2025
By far the most surprising name of the bunch mentioned by Haynes - and it should be a worry to fans in The Valley - is that of David Fizdale. Yes you read that correctly. Despite being on the coaching staffs of both Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer - and with the franchise seemingly desperate to start over and move on from the mistakes of the past - Fizdale could yet get the top job.
This also goes against the first time coach angle that many predicted, although there may be one reason to kind of buy into this. Fizdale has not only seen it all before and it a veteran coach himself, he literally had the best seat in the house the last two seasons to see exactly where everything went wrong. He also appears to be well respected by both Booker and Kevin Durant.
On this day in 2017, David Fizdale delivered the “Take That For Data” press conference after a Game 2 loss against the Spurs in the 1st round. pic.twitter.com/IlZybk3cSl
— Grizzlies History (@Grizzstory) April 17, 2025
Despite this, possibly hiring Fizdale feels underwhelming. Ishbia has spoken about wanting a grittier person to take the lead here - and while Fizdale could be there - why not go outside the house and see what exciting talent they can get. Micah Nori for example is another name on the list, and he did some really nice things when in charge of the Minnesota Timberwolves briefly last season.
This just reeks of a franchise that talks a big game about being brave and making wholesale changes, before then hiring a friend in Gregory as GM and sticking to what they know in the coaching position. Perhaps worst of all - if the Suns do have another disappointing campaign next season - it will be rinse and repeat and Fizdale will be canned.
Whereas if a younger coach was at the helm - if the season again goes sideways - the Suns could take a step back and then grow with whoever that person is. Booker is still young enough for this to be the case - just about - and it would also give them a chance to bring an identity back to the organization that in truth left the moment Chris Paul walked out the door. Please, not Fizdale.