The Phoenix Suns fired Mike Budenholzer shortly after the season ended. Phoenix started the season off on a high note, winning eight of its first nine games, but finished as the No. 11 seed in the West, missing the Play-In Tournament.
Budenholzer marked the third coach the Suns fired in as many seasons, following Frank Vogel's firing in 2024 and Monty Williams' in 2023. The hope is that Phoenix won't fire another head coach again in 2026.
Mat Ishbia said the Suns are in no rush to hire their next head coach, emphasizing that Phoenix wants to find the "right" person. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Sunday that James Jones has been "operating as the point guard" for the Suns' head coach search. Jones' contract is set to expire this summer, so it's interesting that he is the one in charge.
On Tuesday, Phoenix fans gained more insight into the kind of head coach the team is seeking. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported that there is a "strong belief" that the Suns will target a "young, first-time NBA head coach to fill their vacancy." Scotto listed Cleveland's Jordan Ott and Oklahoma City's Dave Bliss as two assistant coaches who are expected to draw interest from Phoenix.
Suns reportedly looking to hire a first-time head coach
Phoenix's last two head coaches both won championships with their previous teams, so it's telling that the Suns are pivoting in a completely different direction.
Ishbia previously said that Phoenix has no intentions of trading Devin Booker and entering a rebuilding phase. He still believes the Suns can win a title in the next few years. Doing so will become even more challenging with a first-time head coach, regardless of their coaching ability. It will also add pressure to whoever is hired if it is their first head coaching gig. Phoenix needs to be patient, which doesn't seem to be a quality Ishbia has.
Along with Ott and Bliss, Scotto listed Cavaliers associate head coach Johnnie Bryant, Rockets assistant coaches Royal Ivey and Ben Sullivan, Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn, and Mavericks assistant coaches Sean Sweeney and Jared Dudley as candidates the Suns are expected to pursue. Dudley is the most intriguing name on the list, as a former player who spent a combined six and a half seasons in Phoenix.
This offseason presents a prime opportunity for the Suns to get back on track, and who they choose to lead their team will be one of the most important decisions they make this summer.