The Phoenix Suns underwent rapid changes following their first-round playoff exit, swiftly dismissing Head Coach Frank Vogel after just one season of his five-year, $31 million contract.
Mike Budenholzer was appointed as his replacement on a reportedly even higher salary, signaling that the Suns might still be contemplating further changes.
The issues within the Suns organization were quickly brought to light, starting with a revealing exposé by Shams Charania in The Athletic shortly after the Minnesota Timberwolves clinched Game 4. The report was particularly critical of Vogel, suggesting he lacked respect from the locker room. It also highlighted discontent from star player Kevin Durant regarding his role in Vogel’s offensive strategies.
On a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith weighed in on comments made by Michael Wilbon, who had described the Suns’ issues as irreparable.
Smith elaborated on Durant’s situation, asserting that he is perceived as a “problem” in Phoenix. According to Smith, Durant had reportedly ceased communication with Vogel for an entire month during the season and seemed isolated, focusing only on playing the game rather than engaging with teammates.
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Smith emphasized, “Here’s where Mike Wilbon didn’t go into the details that all of us covering the NBA are fully aware of: Kevin Durant, in Phoenix, is a problem. You don’t see it because the stats are there. Him and (Devin) Booker averaging 27 points a game and what have you. But they say Kevin Durant is never happy. They say he went more than a month without even talking to the head coach. They say he doesn’t look happy there and all he wants to do is play when the game starts and tip-off arrives. But when it comes to ingratiating yourself with your teammates and getting along with everybody and stuff like that, he just lives in his own world.”
This portrayal of Durant presents a significant challenge for the Suns.
Despite Durant’s undoubted skill and his remaining two years on a five-year max contract, his apparent dissatisfaction could complicate matters for a franchise that surrendered significant assets to acquire him. While the Suns would face difficulty in trading Durant for a comparable return, keeping an unhappy superstar could be just as problematic.
Despite these concerns, the hiring of Budenholzer represents a proactive step by the Suns to rectify the team’s atmosphere and hopefully redirect the focus towards winning—often seen as the best remedy for internal conflicts.
While there might not be major moves in Phoenix this offseason, the situation certainly merits attention as it develops.
