Tag: Phoenix Suns

Phoenix Suns Face Fourth Employee Lawsuit Alleging Retaliation and Discrimination

Gene Traylor (Phoenix Suns)
May 2025

Suns director of safety Gene Traylor has filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation, harassment, and discrimination after flagging multiple security and reputational risks within the organization. This is the fourth such lawsuit filed by a current or former Suns employee in seven months.
Traylor alleges he was demoted after presenting internal security failures and was discouraged from taking medical leave during cancer treatment. He joins several others claiming toxic workplace conditions, despite the NBA-mandated reforms following the Robert Sarver misconduct scandal.

Suns Promote Brian Gregory to GM as James Jones Moves to Advisory Role

Brian Gregory (Phoenix Suns)
May 2025 (Offseason Transition)

The Phoenix Suns have promoted VP Brian Gregory to general manager, with former GM James Jones shifting to a senior advisory role as part of a broader basketball operations overhaul.
Owner Mat Ishbia praised Gregory’s scouting role in recent drafts and cited his basketball IQ as key to transforming the team. The Suns are also searching for a new head coach after firing Mike Budenholzer following an 11th-place finish.

Mat Ishbia Slams Suns’ Season, Promises Major Changes

Mat Ishbia (Phoenix Suns Owner)
April 2025, following Suns’ 36-46 season and missing playoffs

Ishbia called the 2024-25 campaign “embarrassing” and “a failure,” citing poor effort, no identity, and misaligned roster decisions. Coach Mike Budenholzer was fired, and further changes are expected.
Ishbia pledged to reshape the team culture around grit, passion, and work ethic. Devin Booker remains untouchable, while Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal’s futures are uncertain amid trade speculation. The Suns will now search for their fourth coach in four seasons.

Suns Fire Budenholzer After Missing Playoffs, Set for Major Overhaul

Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix Suns)
April 2025

The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after a disappointing 36–46 season and failure to make the playoffs, despite holding the NBA’s largest payroll.
Budenholzer struggled to connect with the roster, including star Devin Booker. The Suns became just the third team in history to start 8–1 and still miss the postseason. Phoenix will begin a wide-ranging coaching search and explore offseason trades involving Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal as the franchise prepares to retool around Booker.

Suns Fire Budenholzer After Historic Collapse, Eye Roster Overhaul

Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix Suns)
April 15, 2025

The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after finishing 36–46 and missing both the playoffs and play-in tournament, despite holding the largest payroll in NBA history.
Budenholzer reportedly struggled to connect with the locker room, including franchise cornerstone Devin Booker. Phoenix is expected to explore trades for Kevin Durant and evaluate Bradley Beal’s future as owner Mat Ishbia prepares a major offseason reset.

Suns Crash Out Despite NBA’s Highest Payroll

Phoenix Suns
April 10, 2025

The Phoenix Suns, the NBA’s most expensive roster, were officially eliminated from postseason contention after an eighth straight double-digit loss — this time 125-112 to the shorthanded Thunder. They will miss the play-in tournament.
Despite a roster packed with star power and a strong 8-1 start, injuries, inconsistency, and lack of culture-building doomed their season. Durant missed the final five games, Beal struggled with injuries, and coach Budenholzer never found a rhythm. At 35-45, they now face a long offseason and potential shakeups.

Kevin Durant Out at Least One Week with Another Ankle Sprain

Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
April 2025

Durant is expected to miss at least a week due to a left ankle sprain suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Rockets — his third such injury in two years with Phoenix.
Durant landed awkwardly after contact with Jabari Smith Jr. and couldn’t put weight on his left leg. With seven games remaining, Phoenix—currently 1.5 games out of a Play-In spot—faces a brutal schedule without their star, having gone 2–11 without him this season.

Kevin Durant Suffers Ankle Injury as Suns Collapse Against Rockets

Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
March 2025

Durant exited with a left ankle sprain during the third quarter of the Suns’ 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets after landing awkwardly on Jabari Smith Jr.’s foot.
The All-Star forward couldn’t put weight on his left leg and will undergo an MRI. He also had a heated exchange with Dillon Brooks earlier, resulting in double technicals and Brooks’ ejection. Durant had 11 points and 8 rebounds in 23 minutes.

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