Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia has made another bold move, parting ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer after a frustrating 2024–25 season that ended with a 36-46 record, leaving the team outside the playoffs and even the Play-In tournament.
It was a shocking collapse for a team loaded with stars like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, and Ishbia wasted no time taking accountability for the failed coaching hire.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Ishbia addressed a number of organizational issues, confirming that a major shift is underway.
“There are a lot of reasons why Coach Budenholzer is not here. I won’t go into all of them,” Ishbia said. “But I definitely believe we should have won a lot more games and been much more competitive.”
Suns owner Mat Ishbia on firing Mike Budenholzer (via @azfamily):
“The team, and the roster that was constructed, is much better than a 36-win roster. There’s a lot of reasons why Coach Bud is not here.”
A harsh, direct shot placing a lot of blame for this year on Budenholzer. pic.twitter.com/8B0Ij6UhT3
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) April 17, 2025
He didn’t mince words about Budenholzer’s fit with the franchise.
“We wish Budenholzer the best, but he was the wrong coach for our organization and for this team. And you can blame me for that—I’m the owner.”
Believing that the roster, built by GM James Jones, is far more talented than their record suggests, Ishbia made it clear that a reset is coming—and it starts at the top.
Mat Ishbia to Suns Fans: “We Will Win Championships”
Despite the turbulence, Mat Ishbia turned the page with a passionate promise to the fanbase.
“I promise you we will. I promise you we will win championships—with an S at the end.”
Mat Ishbia: “I promise you we will. I promise you we will win championships, with an S at the end.”
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 17, 2025
He emphasized that Booker and Beal remain the core of the team’s vision, and that bringing the franchise back to title contention is still the ultimate goal.
The Suns reached the NBA Finals in 2021, but the fire that once carried them there has dimmed in recent years. Now, they’re looking to reignite that flame—and it starts with finding the right leadership on the bench.
With a new coaching search underway and pressure mounting to deliver results, all eyes are on Ishbia and the Suns to see what moves come next—and whether that bold championship promise holds true.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
