Mike Budenholzer faces 'massive immediate expectations' coaching Big 3, Phoenix Suns

ESPN's NBA insiders list Mike Budenholzer as one of the league's coaches with high expectations as part of a breakdown of coaches and front-office executives who "are feeling the heat" this season.

The Phoenix Suns hired Budenholzer shortly after firing Frank Vogel following one season that ended with 49 wins in the regular season and a first-round postseason exit.

Minnesota swept the sixth-seeded Suns, who were the first team eliminated from the playoffs. Now Budenholzer, who won an NBA championship coaching the Milwaukee Bucks past Phoenix in the 2021 Finals, is back after not coaching last season.

The Bucks fired Budenholzer after the 2022-23 season. From Holbrook, Arizona, Budenholzer, 55, has a 484-317 coaching record over 10 seasons (five in Atlanta, five in Milwaukee). His teams reached the playoffs in nine of those 10 seasons.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon wrote: "Coaching the Suns' star-studded top-heavy roster comes with massive immediate expectations. Ask Budenholzer's predecessor, Frank Vogel, who was fired after his first season in Phoenix ended with a 49-33 record and first-round sweep.

"Like Vogel, Budenholzer brings a head-coaching résumé to the Suns that includes an NBA championship and reputation for being one of the league's elite defensive tacticians. He's tasked with squeezing the potential out of the Suns' max-salary trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, who played only 41 games together last season due to injuries."

The Suns went 26-15 in those 41 games with their Big 3.

Billy Donovan (Bulls), Kenny Atkinson (Cavaliers), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Ty Lue (Clippers), JJ Redick (Lakers), Taylor Jenkins (Grizzlies), Doc Rivers (Bucks), Mike Brown (Kings) and Budenholzer are the coaches ESPN feels have the most pressure and facing expectations.

As far as management, ESPN listed Arturas Karnisovas (Bulls), Calvin Booth (Nuggets), Mike Dunleavy Jr. (Warriors), Lawrence Frank (Clippers) Rob Pelinka (Lakers) Jon Horst (Bucks) and David Griffin (Pelicans) as front office folks with the same issues and concerns.

The NBA regular season begins Oct. 22.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrakin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin .

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mike Budenholzer faces 'massive immediate expectations' coaching Big 3, Phoenix Suns