The Phoenix Suns entered the 2024-25 season with lofty expectations with Mike Budenholzer as their coach.

The season ended without a play-off berth with Budenholzer being fired.

The Suns announced Monday they were parting ways with Budenholzer after one disappointing season.

The unsurprising decision was made one day after the franchise finished with a 36-46 record. Phoenix lost nine of its final 10 games to end up in 11th place in the Western Conference, missing the Play-In Tournament by three games.

"Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season," the team said in a short statement. "Our fans deserve better. Change is needed."

OFFICIAL: The Phoenix Suns announced today that the organization has relieved head coach Mike Budenholzer of his duties.

The Suns released the following statement:
Competing at the highest level remains our goal, and we failed to meet expectations this season. Our fans deserve…

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) April 14, 2025

The Suns went 49-33 last season, and hired the 55-year-old Budenholzer in May, hoping he could lead a high-priced roster featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal back to the NBA Finals.

Budenholzer came to Phoenix after a successful stint in Milwaukee, which included an NBA title in 2021, when his Bucks defeated the Suns in six games in the Finals.

This season got off to an encouraging start with the Suns opening 8-1, but Durant injured his calf in that ninth game, and Phoenix promptly imploded, going 1-6 in his absence.

The Suns struggled to compete when Durant wasn't on the court, going 33-29 in games he played, but just 3-17 in games he didn't.

Durant, Booker and Beal appeared together in less than half of Phoenix's games, taking the court together 37 times.

In addition to coaching the Suns and Bucks, Budenholzer also coached the Atlanta Hawks, and has compiled a 520-363 career record in his 11 seasons as an NBA coach.