Instead, it ended with a 36-46 record, a missed playoff berth, and a third head coaching change in as many years.
After a lackluster finish that saw Phoenix lose nine of its final ten games, the Suns fired Mike Budenholzer just one year into his five-year, $50 million contract.
Despite his championship pedigree and strong track record in Milwaukee and Atlanta, Budenholzer struggled to connect with the locker room, especially franchise cornerstone Devin Booker.
Sources cited a lack of buy-in across the roster and growing dysfunction, with multiple players expressing frustrations about communication and rotation decisions.
All Eyes on Booker and the Fallout Around Him
Devin Booker now finds himself in an increasingly chaotic situation. Since reaching the 2021 NBA Finals with Chris Paul and head coach Monty Williams, Booker has endured constant turnover.
He’s now set to play under his fourth head coach in four seasons, with uncertainty surrounding the futures of both Durant and Beal.
Durant, who still played at an elite level with 26.6 points per game in 62 appearances, has one year left on his deal. Trade talks around the 35-year-old star already swirled at the deadline — including a near-deal to Golden State — and are expected to pick up again this summer.
Though Durant still holds considerable on-court value, the Suns likely won’t recoup the same kind of return they gave up to acquire him (Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, and multiple first-round draft picks).
Beal’s case is even murkier. The former All-Star played just 53 games for a second straight year, struggled with injuries, and remains a poor fit next to Booker and Durant. With a no-trade clause and $111 million remaining over two years, moving him will be a tall task.
Booker, meanwhile, continued to lead by example, playing 75 games, his most since 2017, and averaging 25.5 points and a career-best 7.1 assists.
He became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and remained focused on competing until the final buzzer, even as the Suns fell apart around him.
Retool, Rebuild, or Reset?
With the Big Three experiment floundering, Phoenix faces hard choices. Being over the second tax apron has gutted the team’s flexibility, forcing them to fill out the roster with vet minimum deals.
Some veterans like Nick Richards and Cody Martin — both acquired midseason — showed value and could be brought back, but the Suns must find ways to reshape their identity.
Whether they rebuild around Booker or attempt a quick retool, Phoenix must hit on key decisions this offseason:
- Hire the right head coach to build trust with Booker and establish a transparent system.
- Decide Durant’s fate: trade him now for future assets or run it back one more year.
- Explore every possible option with Beal, despite his no-trade clause.
- Develop the youth: rookies Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro showed promise, especially on defense.
In short, the Suns must chart a direction. The worst outcome now would be stagnation — sticking too long with a flawed core in hopes it magically clicks.
For a team with sky-high expectations and championship dreams not long ago, the rebuild clock is already ticking.
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