Painful: Mike Budenholzer  sobs as the phoenix suns present their new head coach to the entire team

Painful: Mike Budenholzer  sobs as the phoenix suns present their new head coach to the entire team

On Friday, the Phoenix Suns will hold a press conference at 12 p.m. MST to officially welcome head coach Mike Budenholzer.

The Suns’ YouTube channel (pictured above) and Arizona Sports will both stream live of Budenholzer’s debut at Footprint Center, along with general manager and president of basketball operations James Jones.

With the Atlanta Hawks (2014–15) and Bucks (2018–19), Budenholzer won two NBA Coach of the Year awards. He also guided Milwaukee to an NBA Finals victory over the Suns in 2021.

Before going 391-271 (.693) with the Bucks from 2018–23, he was 410–213 (.520) for the Hawks from 2013–18.

In 1996, following two seasons as a video coordinator, he became a member of Gregg Popovich’s coaching staff with the San Antonio Spurs. After serving in that capacity as an assistant for 17 years, he was employed as

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round sweep put an end to an incredibly disappointing season, and it was a far cry from the championship hopes that had been raised when Frank Vogel was hired prior to the 2023–24 campaign.

Phoenix had a 49-33 record at the end of the season, but they had trouble staying consistent.

After firing head coach Monty Williams in the offseason, Vogel was brought on by Phoenix, making Budenholzer the team’s third coach in three years and the second that owner Mat Ishbia has employed.