The Frank Vogel experiment in Phoenix is over.
The Suns are looking for a new head coach after firing Vogel. the team announced on ThursdayThe game came less than two weeks after the Timberwolves defeated Phoenix in the first round of the NBA playoff series.
“As I stated in my May 1st press conference, the team’s leadership and ownership, including myself and Josh Bartelstein, will be reviewing our entire basketball operation to determine what changes need to be made. We’re going to do it,” said Suns president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones. “After carefully reviewing the season, we have come to the conclusion that our team needs another head coach. We appreciate Frank’s hard work and dedication.
“We are here to win championships, but last season fell well short of our expectations. We’re going to make changes. It’s our job to all take responsibility and work with Josh and the ownership to build a championship team.”
Mike Budenholzer, who was fired by the top-seeded Bucks last May after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Heat, will reportedly be a key figure in the Suns’ coaching search.
Budenholzer was fired after five seasons, just two years after leading Milwaukee to its first NBA title in half a century.
The Suns finished the regular season with a record of 49 wins and 33 losses, earning them the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
However, there were issues between the 50-year-old Vogel and the players, with Kevin Durant reportedly unhappy with the way he was being used.
