Report: Suns Player Had to Hold Back Laughing at Frank Vogel Outburst Before Playoffs

Frank Vogel went into an angry tirade both after his Phoenix Suns lost to the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9—a game that saw them fall into a 35-4 deficit—and during the next day's shootaround, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania and Doug Haller.

But Suns' players thought the outbursts were "forced and out of character," per that report. It even "left players rolling their eyes, sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic. One player even told The Athletic he had to keep from laughing."

Only a few weeks later, the Suns were swept out of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, casting Vogel's future into question. The much-vaunted trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal couldn't even win a single playoff game in their first season together.

There was also this moment:

That trio is unlikely to be broken up, but adding quality depth around them—and potentially seeking new coaching leadership—could be on the horizon for these Suns. The 2023-24 season will ultimately go down as an unmitigated disaster.