PHOENIX — Mike Budenholzer is the new Suns head coach, becoming the 22nd head coach in the team's history.
“We’re excited to name Mike as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and bring him back to his home state of Arizona,” said Mat Ishbia, owner of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, in a news release. “Mike has proven himself to be among the most successful head coaches in the NBA. He is the right leader to take us to the next level and reach our championship goals.”
Budenholzer was born and raised in Holbrook, Arizona and will be asked to get back to the winning playoff ways after this year's disappointing first-round exit.
“I am honored to be named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the team I grew up watching,” Budenholzer said in a news release. “I would like to thank Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and James Jones for the opportunity to lead this team. I’m grateful to have a talented roster of players who are ready to compete and play a style of basketball that will bring out the best in all of them, and bring them together as we compete for championships.”
Suns fans last saw Budenholzer as the head coach of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks team that defeated Phoenix in the NBA Finals. He was also voted the Coach of the Year during the 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 NBA seasons. His NBA coaching career began by spending more than 15 years on the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff.
“Mike’s exceptional basketball acumen, championship pedigree and his standing as one of the NBA’s premier coaches will be invaluable as we compete for a championship,” President of Basketball Operations and General Manager James Jones said in a news release. “We’re confident that under his leadership our team will reach new levels of success.”
A report released Friday morning said the Suns were expected to name Budenholzer as their new head coach. Friday afternoon, reports came in that Budenholzer agreed to the terms of a 5-year, 50-plus million dollar deal, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Charania first broke the news on social media Friday morning.
Budenholzer was born and raised in Holbrook, Arizona and will be asked to get back to the winning playoff ways after this year's disappointing first-round exit.
Suns fans last saw Budenholzer as the head coach of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks team that defeated Phoenix in the NBA Finals. He was also voted the Coach of the Year during the 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 NBA seasons. His NBA coaching career began by spending more than 15 years on the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff.
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