As soon as he walked into the Footprint Center home locker room, Frank Vogel ignited his players. On April 9, following his Phoenix Suns’ 35-4 deficit and a loss to the LA Clippers, the head coach screamed so loudly that his voice could be heard outside the locker room. There was just one issue.

The Suns players weren’t buying it this evening. They thought the outburst was forced and uncharacteristic. Vogel reiterated it in the Los Angeles shootaround the following day, going after the Suns hard before the Suns defeated the Clippers on the road that evening. Players rolled their eyes after Vogel’s outburst, according to people briefed on the situation who spoke with The Athletic. Even The Athletic was told by one player that he had to suppress his laughter.

The Suns were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves four games in a row in an often close Western Conference first-round series. Despite a strong effort, the Suns were defeated 122-116 at home in the Game 4 on Sunday. Devin Booker (49) and Kevin Durant (33), together for 82 points, gave Phoenix some life.

But with Bradley Beal, Durant, and Booker as their core players, the Suns were predicted to challenge for the franchise’s first title. Rather, they fought to define themselves for the entire season, which caused them to lose some faith in the guy in command.

Together, Durant, Booker, and Beal did not play to their full potential throughout these playoffs, and according to those in the locker room, none of the three became the essential leader on the court. However, the head coach is ultimately responsible, so for the second consecutive summer, those briefed on the matter told The Athletic that Phoenix will seriously consider replacing Vogel as head coach or, at the very least, talking about staff changes. However, same sources stated that general manager James Jones is anticipated to carry on supervising the Suns’ team-building initiatives.

Vogel, for his part, stated prior to Game 4 that he is certain he will return the next season and that team owner Mat Ishbia had given him his “complete support.”

Less than a year earlier, following the Suns’ loss to eventual champion Denver in the Western Conference semifinals, Ishbia brought in Vogel on a five-year, $31 million contract to take Monty Williams’ place. Williams had lost the trust of every department inside the Suns organization, therefore it was a wise decision to let him go. Williams didn’t do any better in his debut season with the Detroit Pistons this year—quite the contrary, in fact, as the team had its worst record ever.

Vogel was hired because of his impressive resume. During his 11-year tenure as an NBA head coach, he lead the Indiana Pacers to two Eastern Conference finals and led LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship during the 2019–20 bubble season. In his first season in the desert, the defensive-minded coach Jusuf Nurkić had a solid big man in him, established offensive talents, a high-priced coaching staff, and a lot of questions.

How will the big three work together? Can the team’s players maintain their health? Does the team need more depth, especially a genuine point guard?

Vogel nevertheless pledged, saying, “We’re going to be scrappy as hell when we get out there and play.” Every night, we’re going to be a resilient squad that gives it our all on the field.

It wasn’t always with that kind of intensity or desperation from the Suns. Good teams even in the NBA resemble the head coach in certain aspects. Phoenix’s defense did improve, but it rarely maintained a lead. One night the Suns would look amazing, the next uninterested. Then, when it counted most, the sixth-seeded Suns and their internal weaknesses were revealed following a strong conclusion to a 49-33 regular season.

The Suns lost Game 2 at Minnesota, 105-93, after letting poor play and officiating ruin a potentially winning game. Minnesota withdrew when Phoenix lost their cool, electrifying the Target Center crowd.

With 3:53 remaining and down by 15, Vogel attempted to use a thin lineup, conserving his starters for the three-day game in Phoenix. Though sources briefed on the situation claim Booker stated in the huddle that he preferred the current bunch stay in, believing the Suns still had a chance, he called on five bench players to get ready to check into the game. Not much changed, but Vogel kept the five players that were in the game. Ninety seconds later, Booker fouled out, and Vogel substituted the reserves.

Vogel and Beal seemed to talk to each other during the second half of that same game. Both claimed that the incident was the result of the moment’s intensity after Game 2.

“It wasn’t personal; it was just similar to what was happening in the game,” Beal remarked. The referees. Our course. We had a poor defense. I simply ask myself, “What are we doing?” Beal continued, saying he and Vogel were getting along well as Phoenix prepared to return home for Game 3.

If a team plays with great efficiency and regularity, on-court arguments are usually forgiven, but Phoenix hasn’t operated like that this season.

After Game 2, Booker remarked, “We’re all trying to fight out there, and so far this series, once it has turned to sh–, we’ve kind of separated instead of being together.” “Everyone is like that. from top to bottom.

The Suns had three victories towards the end of March, but they also suffered a loss against San Antonio, who were without their likely rookie of the year, Victor Wembanyama. A week later, the Suns defeated playoff teams Minnesota, Cleveland, and New Orleans to begin their finest run of play. Nevertheless, the Clippers destroyed them with a 35-4 start two days later in Phoenix, which left Vogel furiously criticizing them following the game.