Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel has been fired, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. That means the franchise will be in the market for a new coach for the second offseason in a row.
Vogel went 49-33 during his first and only season in Phoenix. The Suns showed great potential at times, but the reality is they never reached their ceiling.
It also doesn’t help Vogel’s case that Phoenix got swept in the opening round of the playoffs.
Shortly after the Suns were eliminated from the playoffs, team owner Mat Ishbia was asked about Vogel’s future. At that time, he was unwilling to say whether or not the veteran coach would be back for the 2024-25 season.
“I have not had one discussion … not one discussion about my GM, my coach, we’re trading players now supposedly in the media,” Ishbia said, via Arizona Sports. “Not one discussion’s even been had, let alone any decision being made. There’s been nothing about any of those things, any of those people.
“I think Frank Vogel did a lot of great things, I think James Jones did a lot of great things, I think Josh Bartelstein does, I think our players do, I think I’ve done some great things, but we’re going to evaluate everything.”
On paper, the Suns have a star-studded trio with Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant. There are concerns about their age and durability, though.
With Vogel officially out of the picture, the Suns will have to find a coach who can maximize the potential of their big three.