Kofi Inkoom
Update : Mike Budenholzer has agreed to terms on a five-year, $50-plus million deal to become the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. He succeeds Frank Vogel who was fired days ago.
The Phoenix Suns are set to bring on board Mike Budenholzer, who won the 2021 NBA title, as their head coach, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Additionally, Charania noted that lead assistant coach David Fizdale will shift into a front office position with the Suns. Before joining Phoenix, Fizdale served as the Associate General Manager for the Utah Jazz.
Budenholzer’s contract, spanning multiple years, is anticipated to approach a significant eight-figure sum annually. It’s a decisive move by Suns owner Mat Ishbia and the front office, following the announcement of Frank Vogel’s dismissal on Thursday.
Reports emerged on Thursday pointing to Budenholzer as the leading candidate for the position. Similar to Vogel, who had a brief stint of just one season with Phoenix, Budenholzer brings a championship-winning track record to a team boasting three stars — Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal — along with a cohort of role players, primarily on minimum contracts for veterans.
“They view Mike Budenholzer as a clear choice that can really come in there and optimize those three guys,” Charania said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back program. “That’s really where this all hinges at, that the Big 3 being fully maximized and utilized the right way offensively.”
Budenholzer secured a championship with the 2020/21 Bucks. He coached the Atlanta Hawks for five seasons and the Bucks for another five, accumulating a 484-317 record in the regular season and a 56-48 record in the postseason.