Owner Mat Ishbia directed blame toward former head coach Mike Budenholzer for the Suns‘ disastrous season during a meeting with reporters on Thursday, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Budenholzer, who received a five-year deal worth more than $50MM last May, was fired Monday morning after leading the team to a 36-46 record and missing the play-in tournament.
“There’s a lot of reasons why Coach Bud is not here. I’m not going to get into all those reasons, but definitely believe we should’ve won a lot more games and been a lot more competitive during those games as well,” Ishbia said. “Wish him the best, but it was the wrong coach for our organization and for that team and at the end of the day, you can blame me for it because I’m the owner.”
Ishbia has shown a quick trigger with coaches, dismissing Frank Vogel last offseason after Phoenix was swept in the first round of the playoffs. That came after reaching a buyout with Monty Williams in 2023 shortly after Ishbia purchased the team.
Ishbia spoke Thursday about the importance of getting the next head coaching decision “right.” He credited general manager James Jones and CEO Josh Bartelstein with building a competitive team and stated that the organization is “much better than a 36-win roster.” Ishbia also emphasized the need to find a head coach who works in unison with ownership and the front office.
“Our coach has to believe that stuff as well,” Ishbia said. “It can’t be, I believe this, and front office believes this, and the coach is like, ‘Yeah, but I don’t care that the guys are cheering guys on’ and ‘I don’t care if the guys are paying attention in the huddle.’ That’s not going to do with us. We’ve got to set it first up front with the leadership, it starts with me, and we will do that. And then we will get the right front office structure with scouts and what to look for in the draft and we’re going to find the right coach.”
Ishbia added that he hopes to hire his next coach in the “next week or two.” Rankin points out that the Suns were in the playoffs 2023 and 2024, which gave them a late start on their coaching searches.
Jones admits the current situation offers advantages, even though it’s not where the Suns expected to be.
“I think it was evident given the time crunch and given where we were that it wasn’t as thorough or as deep of a search as we would like,” he said. “Fortunately for us, the season has ended early so it gives us more time to get this right. Unfortunately, the season ended too early, which means that we’re in this position, but we’re going to be diligent.”
The Suns came out of the gate fast under Budenholzer, winning eight of their first nine games and looking like one of the top teams in the West. Rankin notes that things began to unravel in February as they lost 11 times in a 14-game stretch to fall five games under .500. Any lingering hopes for a spot in the play-in tournament disappeared as Phoenix stumbled to a 1-9 record in its final 10 games.
Defense was an issue for the Suns all season as they finished 27th in the league in defensive rating. That seemed to especially bother Ishbia, who told reporters, “That’s just not what we’re going to be about.” Budenholzer’s team was also criticized for a lack of toughness, and Ishbia indicated that will be a consideration in hiring the next coach.
“We’re going to look for someone that fits the vision of Phoenix Suns basketball organization,” he said. “Someone who is going to live out exactly what I’m talking about. Someone who is a little bit grimy, a little bit grinder, a little bit tough. Have a little bit of that in them. I joke, but it’s true, I’m no talent, all heart. That’s my life. I will just outwork everyone. I’m going to have a coach, a front office, players, that the Phoenix community will love because it’s going to be that.”
Like most billionaire owners they blame everyone else than themselves. He approved all the trades because you must have the owners sign off on it. He signed off on hiring the coach too. So let’s see if he admit failure and go into rebuild mode or pretend that the Suns are contenders next year and doesn’t trade Durant for good young players and draft picks.
I’m so here for my delusion on his part. Probably because I’m not a Suns fan and it’s funny to watch from afar.
Seriously LOL … I remember seeing what they gave up for Beal and was aghast. (I actually also thought that the Wizards shouldn’t have extended him and should’ve just traded him for whatever they could recoup.
I actually thought the package was kinda meh. The swaps arent supposed to be worth anything after that type all in move. I think the package for even a diminished super star as beal was at the time is usually more than some seconds and swaps and second swaps. The problem was the no trade. It made the contract so much worse than it would have been in a pre this CBA world.
Ishbia is so out to lunch its insane. This team has no pathway to improvement in the offseason either with no draft assets or the ability to sign anything but min guys. Run it back and it will go even worse…
Just my opinion
Suns are clearly 7-10th seed. They are underachieved.
Same thing
76ers are clearly 7-10th seed. They are underachieved.
“You can blame me but actually it’s all the other guy’s fault” is certainly a swing.
As is “I blame the coach for not being tough enough even though my star players refused to actually be coached because they’re soft as charmin”.
Exactly, Phoenix plays zero defense in a league that requires it. They should not have won more games, the team was constructed like trash the second they decided “KD/Book/Beal is a valid big 3”.
Could be a long road for Phoenix because it sounds like this owner believes the current roster is a good one. It’s all the coache’s fault that they didn’t win more games.
So with that in mind, I have a feeling he’s not going to do the right thing and trade Durant and Booker and whoever else and start over.
Seriously, what coach can transform this roster into a cohesive unit with one goal and all hands on deck toward that goal?
Phil Jackson is not available. He was perfect for that. His assistants did the Xs and Os and Phil managed the egos. Did it twice. Actually three or four times with the different bulls and Lakers rosters. Who’s out there who can do the same thing?
Suns didn’t give up much for Beal. All 2nd rd picks (7) and money relief. And swaps that won’t really happen. The mistake was moving Ayton. Basically betting on Beal instead of Ayton. That was the big mistake.
Here’s the trade ….
link to nba.com
In 2022-23 Beal avg 23.2 pts, 4 rebounds, 5.4 ast
Gave up a lot of cap room.
Yep, empty stats. With empty stats you get the good player or stat grabber on a losing team moniker. No trade clause to boot. Bud didn’t ruin the franchise for now, you did. More dollars than sence (cents).
Those swaps later on in 2026, 2028 and 2030 could be very valuable since the wizrds will get a top 5 this year and add that onto Sarr. They probablt y don’t use 2026 swap but 2028 and 203 could be valuable
Not like Ayton is playing out of his skin in Portland either… the problem was just betting on Beal, betting big on Ayton would have been probably a mistake too.
Ayton was 75% of their defense and the other 25% was Mikal Bridges lol. Ayton has been playing well for Portland but he definitely has been sluggish there, a lot because they are a losing team probably.
Owner is right. Just he deserves most of blame. Suns are a mess. They should move KD. Get younger more talent. KD still has value for a team who wants to contend. Kings should be looking at him. Rockets and OKC could look at him.
Beal is a whole other issue. He is not a fit with this team. Without KD ?? Depends who comes back. And the coach and offense. Nobody is trading for him.
Unless you get Dallas to bite …. Kyrie is out and may not come back. Better to have Beal than NO Kyrie.
“I’m the owner and I deserve the blame, but *unfurls list* let’s talk about everyone else that screwed up.”
I think a team will trade for KD but not likely to houston or OKC unless the asking price is dramatically different than the proposed trades by sportswriters. KD wants an extension so essentially paying him $60 mil a year for his age 37-40 years old is not going to net you young players and/or good draft capital in return. It’s just not. And the two best teams in the west have zero incentive to give up their young, rising talent and draft picks for a guy that hasn’t really affected winning in a couple of years.
He can only be extended through age 38 or for 2 seasons per once he is 38 because of the over 38 rule. Its why Steph signed a one year extension despite only having 2 years left last summer, and why LeBron couldnt sign a new 5 year deal.
You get KD on a one year with the ability to add on 2 years after that, and then one additional season each subsequent offseason.
@ Davey, stop hi jacking threads troll. Absolutely nothing to do with your lot. I wish the moderators of this site would take some action, like banning you, lol.
I called Jimmy-KD 1-1 months ago. Still valid. GSW getting a chip with Himmy then flipping him because he will turn to dust the second he needs a new contract.
Your coach from last won 49 games and you fired him anyway you bum.
What does Ishbia expect with that team? 67 wins?
*last season*
“Zero defense team plays bad” YEAH, YOU THINK???
This is what it would look like if that “casual” in your life, who doesnt know ball, was running your team. Its like he thinks KD is a cheat code that just means you auto win no matter what you put around him.
This statement is going to age like milk after missing the playoffs next season too. Unload everyone unless you’re going to build around Booker. Not sure who gets the worst grade this season between Phoenix and Dallas.
He’s dreaming
This is the same guy that signed Mel Tucker to a eight year $80 million contract at Michigan State and then backed out on them when they fired him now they’re stuck with paying him
You are what your record says you are.
– BP
Owner is a nut job. Blames the coach he hired who has a ring. Previous coach has a ring. Owner dabbles in the basketball decisions like it’s a fantasy league and deflects blame. The chemistry was wrong to start off. Keep Booker and drop the rest of the team. Reboot is imminent.