Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse are top contenders for the Phoenix Suns’ sudden vacancy after Monty Williams’ shock shot on Saturday
- Both coaches recently won Coach of the Year and NBA awards
- Williams and the team shockingly parted ways on Saturday night
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The Phoenix Suns are moving in a new direction among their coaching ranks following the firing of head coach Monty Williams on Saturday.
After owner Mat Ishbia opted to part ways with one of the league’s top coaches, he will now look to fill the position.
The top candidates for the job are former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer and former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse.
Both coaches are former Coach of the Year award winners and have recently won NBA titles.
Both coaches were also fired recently after poor playoff results.
Mike Budenholzer (L) and Nick Nurse (R) are the main candidates for the job of Phoenix Suns
Phoenix head coach Monty Williams parted ways with the team after they were eliminated in the playoffs
New Suns owner Mat Ishbia opted to part ways with his head coach on Saturday night
Budenholzer was canned after his Bucks – the NBA’s best regular season team – fell in five games to the Miami Heat.
The Bucks were without star Giannis Antetokounmpo for much of this series – as Budenholzer faced personal tragedy with the loss of his brother in a car accident before Game 4.
Meanwhile, Nurse was let go after his team failed to progress in the NBA Play-In game against the Chicago Bulls – where the Raptors missed half of their free throws and lost by four points. .
Nurse won the 2019 NBA Finals and won Coach of the Year in 2020. Budenholzer earned a title in 2021 and was chosen as the league’s top coach in 2015 and 2019.
