Phoenix Suns Say Goodbye to Coach Frank Vogel

Phoenix Suns have parted ways with coach Frank Vogel after only one season. The franchise fired him on Thursday – less than two weeks after their first-round elimination in the playoffs at the hands of Minnesota Timberwolves

Under Frank, the Suns became a No.6 seed before crashing out of the tournament in the first round of the playoffs.

“After reviewing our performances this season, we concluded that we needed a different head coach for our team,” Suns general manager James Jones said in a statement. “We appreciate Frank’s hard work and commitment.”

Vogel joined the Suns last summer and was tasked to lead the team with the All-Star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The group did share some good moments, but never really gelled.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Beal was injured for most of the first half of the season. But, even after his return, Suns suffered a thin-bench syndrome and never really got going.

In a pre-match talk before Game 4, Vogel said he enjoyed the “full backing of Mat Ishbia – the owner of the Phoenix Suns – for another season.

But, now he has been fired.

Vogel won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. He has a 480-422 record over 12 seasons with the Pacers, Lakers and Suns.

Ishbia has made bold moves in his one-and-a-half year as the franshise owner. He first brought in Durant in a blockbuster deal that surely disturbed the roaster that made the Finals in 2021. He then fired coach Monty Williams to rope in Beal last summer.

“Our aim is to win a championship and last season wasn’t up to our expectations,” general manager Jones said, and added that everyone including him will face accountability to reach that goal.

Jones might have big plans, but he doesn’t have much room to maneuver with the roaster under the league’s salary cap. He will have to make drastic changes to the roaster as Duran, Booker and Beal have massive salaries and they gave Grayson Allen a $70 million, four-year extension.

The Suns finished the regular season with a 49-33 record, earning the No. 6 seed, closely avoiding the play-in tournament.