Phoenix Suns fire Frank Vogel after one season, early playoff elimination: ‘We required a new coach for our team’

The Phoenix Suns had high hopes for the 2023-24 NBA season with a star-studded roster featuring Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, as well as coach Frank Vogel. However, the team was swept in the first round of the playoffs and decided to part ways with Vogel shortly after. General manager James Jones stated that after a review of the season, they concluded that a different head coach was needed for the team.

Mike Budenholzer, who previously led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, is rumored to be a leading candidate to replace Vogel as the head coach of the Suns. Despite finishing the season with a 49-33 record and entering the playoffs as a sixth seed, the Suns felt the need for a coaching change in order to maximize the talent on their team, specifically Durant’s.

Vogel signed a five-year deal with the Suns in June and expressed confidence that he would be retained for the 2024-25 season while the team was still in the playoffs. He had previously coached the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers and had the full support of team owner Matt Ishbia.

The next Suns coach will be tasked with working closely with the front office, led by Jones, to restructure the team’s payroll, which currently stands as the highest in the league at $209 million. The organization may need to make moves this offseason to reduce their payroll and luxury tax bills in order to build a championship contender. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage for the latest updates on the Suns and the NBA.