The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Frank Vogel, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
“After a thoughtful review of the season, we concluded that we needed a different head coach for our team,” said president of basketball operations and GM James Jones in a press release. “We appreciate Frank’s hard work and commitment. We are here to win a championship and last season was way below our expectations.”
The firing marks the end of a disappointing season for the Suns, who despite adding Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to their roster in recent years, finished sixth in the Western Conference and failed to win a playoff game as they were swept by the Timberwolves. Vogel’s tenure in Phoenix lasted only one season, during which the team achieved a 49-33 record.
The Suns made significant sacrifices to build their roster around Devin Booker, trading away key players like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson to acquire Durant, along with four first-round picks. They also dealt Chris Paul and Landry Shamet to land Beal from the Wizards, which left them lacking depth and a true point guard in their rotation.
With Booker and Beal primarily serving as scoring guards, the Suns struggled with size up front, particularly against the Timberwolves, who dominated the rebounding battle in their playoff series.
Although the Suns hoped their star-studded lineup would make them championship contenders, it’s evident that the current construction isn’t suited for success in the tough Western Conference. While Vogel’s dismissal won’t fix all of the roster issues, it gives the Suns a starting point to make changes in the offseason.
Meanwhile, Vogel finds himself back in the job market after 19 seasons in the NBA as an assistant or head coach, with his most recent stint including coaching the Lakers to an NBA title in the 2019-20 season. As for the Suns, they’re now searching for their third head coach in as many years.