If you followed the Suns this season, you probably aged five years. On paper, this squad looked ready to make noise. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal? That’s a Big Three you expect to see lighting it up in May and June. But nope. They didn’t even sniff the postseason. They wrapped up the year with a 36-46 record and missed the playoffs completely. That’s right—Phoenix, with all that star power, finished 11th in the West.
For two seasons, Suns fans waited for Booker, Durant, and Beal to light it up together. Instead, the trio never even played a full season’s worth of games—just 78 in total. Despite being three of the league’s deadliest scorers, they barely shared the court this year. Chemistry never had a chance to form. The front office went big, but the injuries and lack of time turned this dream lineup into an expensive “what if?”
And now with his first year of a four-year, $220-million supermax deal done, Booker is eligible to tack on a two-year, $149 million extension. And judging by his mindset, he’s leaning toward locking in that extra security. “I’ve been in long enough where I’ve watched some of my heroes and idols just slowly get out of the league, and you see how it hurts them,” he admitted to Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic. “I don’t want to think about the day that I have to do that. It’s nice to be up for an extension.”
Jan 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) with guard Bradley Beal (3) and Devin Booker (1) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While his own future might be trending toward stability, the same can’t be said for the stars around him. Booker didn’t dodge questions about Durant and Beal either—instead, he opened up about their chemistry and the growing noise surrounding the trio.
“I love playing with both of them,” Booker said. “Even the moments that we played together, they haven’t been to what we expected or wanted out of it, but good things do take some time to build and they take experience. We haven’t had a lot of that, but that’s not a good excuse to fall back on.”
That’s not just lip service either. He clearly values the bond they’ve built, even if the results didn’t match the hype. Here’s the crazy part—these three stars couldn’t even string together one full season on the court. Over the last two years, KD, Book, and Beal have only played 78 games together. Not even a full 82-game run. They went 45-33 in that stretch, which sounds decent, but let’s be real—it barely scratched the surface of what was promised. Even this season alone, they shared the floor for just 667 minutes.
And now, with all that talent on the roster, the Suns are at a crossroads. The firing of Mike Budenholzer leaves the team searching for their next head coach, someone who can finally make the stars click and push them back to the playoffs.
Who’s going to Devin Booker’s coach for the next season?
As the Suns look to reset with a new head coach, there are a few names that could fit the bill. First up is Willie Green. Despite not being a free agent, his future in New Orleans is shaky after the Pelicans let go of their executive VP, David Griffin. With a 148-180 record over four seasons, Green’s seat is getting hot.
However, he has strong ties to Phoenix, both from his time as an assistant and his connection with Booker and team owner Matt Ishbia. If the Pelicans part ways with Green, don’t be surprised if the Suns come calling.
Dec 19, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) with head coach Mike Budenholzer against the Indiana Pacers at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Then there’s Michael Malone, who was fired by the Nuggets despite leading them to a championship in 2023. His coaching style caused tension with some of Denver’s players, which mirrors the issues Budenholzer had with the Suns. But Malone’s resume speaks for itself, and if Phoenix wants someone with playoff pedigree, he could be a good fit.
Finally, keep an eye on Sam Cassell. With a stellar career as a player and an assistant coach, Cassell is known for his communication skills and was even named the NBA’s best assistant coach in 2024. If Phoenix is looking for a new voice and dynamic in the locker room, he could be the fresh start they need.
Ultimately, the Suns need a coach who can bring out the best in their superstar trio and lead them back to the playoffs. Let’s see where this goes!
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