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Report: Phoenix Suns Exploring Coaching Change After Embarrassing Sweep In First Round

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated 4/29/24

The Phoenix Suns will reportedly consider making a coaching change following their embarrassing sweep in the first round in April. The Suns weren’t favored to win their series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they weren’t supposed to be an easy out.

A roster with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal should have been more competitive. Instead, the Suns’ Sunday 122-116 loss in Phoenix was the only game the team finished within ten points of the Timberwolves.

Phoenix Suns players had issues with the coaching staff

Per Shams Charania and Doug Haller with The Athletic, Suns players and head coach Frank Vogel didn’t seem to mesh this season. Following a loss on April 9 to the Los Angeles Clippers, players rolled their eyes when he tried to discipline the team:

On this night, Suns players weren’t buying it. The outburst seemed forced and out of character in their eyes. It continued at the next day’s shootaround in Los Angeles, Vogel tearing into the Suns before that night’s road win over the Clippers.

Vogel’s eruption left players rolling their eyes, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. One player even told The Athletic he had to keep from laughing.

The Suns are exploring their options with Frank Vogel

That kind of response by the Suns’ players indicates Vogel doesn’t control the locker room. According to Charania and Haller, the Suns will explore making a coaching change following Sunday’s loss:

After being swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday, the Phoenix Suns will take a hard look at making a full coaching change or, at the very least, discuss adjustments to coach Frank Vogel’s staff, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic.

The potential changes regarding Vogel or his staff come less than one year after Vogel was brought into Phoenix. Suns owner Mat Ishbia hired Vogel on a five-year, $31 million deal to replace Monty Williams after the Suns lost in the Western Conference semifinals in 2023.

Vogel took the Suns job last June

Vogel led the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals championship in the bubble in 2020. He stayed with the Lakers for two more seasons before he was fired in April 2022. He was hired by the Suns last June. The Suns finished with a 49-33 record in the regular season.

Given the Suns’ talent this season, they should still be playing basketball.

Vogel had head coaching jobs with the Indiana Packers and Orlando Magic before taking the Lakers job. In the regular season, Vogel’s record was 480-422 (.532). He has a 49-42 (.538) record in the playoffs.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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