Ex-Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is being eyed by the Phoenix Suns

Could Mike Budenholzer be heading to the Phoenix Suns?

Matthew Dugandzic | May 15, 2023

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Milwaukee Bucks

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly eyeing former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer to become their next head coach.

The Suns are searching for a new head coach after firing Monty Williams shortly after their second-round playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Per a report by Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Reporter, Budenholzer is among the candidates to become the next Suns' coach.

Apart from Budenholzer, the Suns are also considering their own associate head coach, Charles Lee Young, former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse and ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson.

Similar fate

Just like Williams, Budenholzer, and Nurse were also fired by their respective teams shortly after their early exit this year.

The Raptors did not reach the playoffs after they lost to the Chicago Bulls in their play-in duel.

Budenholzer's exit from the Bucks was somewhat unexpected. After all, coach Bud guided the Bucks to their first NBA title in 50 years in 2021, and they looked primed for another top finish this season.

Unceremonious exit

The 53-year-old Budenholzer steered the Bucks to an NBA-best 58-24 slate this season, advancing to the playoffs as the number overall seed.

Disaster struck for the Bucks when they couldn't overcome Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. The Heat dismissed the Bucks in just five games to complete the most significant upset in recent NBA History.

Budenholzer spent five seasons with the Bucks and went 271-120. The Bucks never missed the playoffs under Budenholzer.

Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst has said the decision to let Budenholzer go was not easy.

"The decision to make this change was very difficult. Bud helped lead our team for five incredible seasons, to the Bucks' first title in 50 years, and into an era of sustained success. We are grateful for the culture of winning and leadership that Bud helped create in Milwaukee," Horst said.

Published May 15, 2023

MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.