The Phoenix Suns all but wrapped up the fate of their disastrous season in 2024-25 with big home losses to Oklahoma City and Golden State, ending their playoff hopes with two games remaining. For all the highest payroll in the NBA, an eye-popping $366.6 million, the Suns didn’t even reach the play-in round in the Western Conference. With their star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal making $150.6 million, the Suns’ inability to make the playoffs is one of the largest disappointments in modern NBA history.
“Just no winning habits,” Booker told reporters after the 38-point loss to Golden State on national TV. The next night, a 13-point loss to Oklahoma City pushed their losing streak to eight games, all by double digits. “I don’t feel good about any of it,” Booker added. Worse still, the Suns’ 39-point loss to the Houston Rockets in March was perhaps their most embarrassing loss of the season.
The Suns now have a larger issue: how to repair their issues. Beyond lineups, there are questions regarding head coach Mike Budenholzer, who inherited a 49-win team last season under Frank Vogel but is at 35-45 now. Budenholzer acknowledged after Wednesday’s loss that he hasn’t yet had a conversation with team owner Mat Ishbia regarding his future. With four years left on his $50 million deal, Budenholzer’s case might be the same as that of Vogel, who was let go last year by Ishbia, and Monty Williams, who was released two years ago. In a world where NBA team owners are flush with cash, some analysts say dismissing a coach and making them their money is no longer a large financial burden.
Budenholzer’s failure to communicate with top prospects was a recurring theme all season. In January, he didn’t talk to Bradley Beal or Jusuf Nurkić for a month. There was tension on the floor as well, mainly between Budenholzer and stars such as Booker and Durant, who once swatted his hand away during a timeout. Durant said, “We’re competitive individuals. We both want to see things done the right way.”
The Suns’ woes weren’t all about coaching. The team lacked leadership and consistency on the floor, with flashes of competitiveness followed by periods of disconnection. Beal noted that when trouble came, the team tended to dig itself into a deeper hole rather than battle back. In spite of the issues, the Suns’ roster didn’t change much after the trade deadline. They were 25-25 at the time but have since gone 10-20, further illustrating the lack of connection between the coaching staff and the players.
One of the largest hurdles that the Suns will have to overcome is their salary cap. Already $30.8 million over the cap for next season, they cannot make large-scale moves without getting back players of the same salaries. Beal’s injury record and large contract make him all but immovable, and Durant, who will be 37 next season, has one year remaining on his contract but has already sat out 20 games this season. Booker, though, is loyal to the Suns and wants to spend the remainder of his career there, even though he’s had controversy surround him.
In the future, the Suns’ rebuilding process will have to deal with their financial woes and their leadership problems, on and off the court. As Beal conceded, the team’s inconsistency and failure to withstand adversity were principal factors in their implosion this past season.
