Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia didn’t mince words when reflecting on the 2024-25 season, calling it “embarrassing.”
Despite boasting a star-studded trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal—arguably one of the most talented rosters in the NBA—the Suns struggled with identity, energy, and passion throughout Ishbia’s two-year tenure. The team limped to an 11th-place finish in the Western Conference (36-46), losing nine of their final 10 games.
“We thought it would work. It didn’t,” Ishbia admitted about the aggressive trades for Durant and Beal in 2023. Looking ahead, he remained optimistic: “There will be seasons in my next 40-50 years with the Suns where we lose more games than this. But we’ll feel better about it because we’ll have an identity. We’ll compete, and fans will say, ‘They were fun to watch.’”
Ishbia took responsibility for the disappointing campaign, vowing to evaluate every aspect of the organization—front office, coaches, and players. The first major move came swiftly: head coach Mike Budenholzer was fired hours after the Suns’ season-ending loss to the Kings.
“We have to get the next hire right, and we will,” Ishbia said. “This roster, built by James [Jones], Josh [Bartelstein], and the front office, is far better than a 36-win team. There are many reasons why Coach Bud isn’t here.”
The Suns have cycled through coaches rapidly—Budenholzer and Frank Vogel were each hired within a month of playoff eliminations in 2023 and 2024. This time, Ishbia stressed patience: “It will be a process. We won’t hire a coach in the next week or two. We’ll take our time to make the right decision.”
Whoever takes the job will be Phoenix’s fourth head coach in four seasons. CEO Josh Bartelstein emphasized the importance of finding someone who aligns with the Suns’ culture—something that’s been missing in recent years.
“It’s an organizational thing,” Bartelstein said. “The coach will have a seat at the table and input on how to improve the team, but there’s a core identity we’re building that shouldn’t change year to year.”
Financially, the Suns were the NBA’s highest-paid team ($214M+ payroll), but Ishbia hinted at adjustments, suggesting they won’t top that list next season.
On the court, defensive struggles were glaring. Phoenix ranked fourth-worst in defensive rating (117.7), a flaw GM James Jones acknowledged should have been addressed sooner.
“With three elite scorers, you need more movement and a deeper defensive bench to sustain success,” Jones explained. “We have players capable of elevating their effort—we just didn’t see it this season. We’ll improve internally and explore draft and free agency options to build a better team.”
While Booker remains the franchise cornerstone, Durant and Beal could face scrutiny this offseason. Booker, in the first year of his four-year super-max deal, is eligible for a two-year, $149.8M extension.
Despite this year’s failures, Ishbia remained defiant about the future: “I promise you, we will win championships—with an ‘S’ at the end.”
Leave a Reply