Giannis Antetokounmpo made it clear that, despite losing in the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Milwaukee Bucks’ season was not a failure.
However, it appears that the organization’s leadership disagrees with him.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer on Thursday.
BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks dismissed coach Mike Budenholzer, sources tell ESPN. Budenholzer is out after the East’s top-seed suffered a first-round loss to the Miami Heat. pic.twitter.com/wQp0Zk3lxi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2023
The Bucks finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, which made them the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs. However, the team was shocked by the 8-seed Miami Heat in the first round in a very disappointing finish to the year.
Budenholzer’s decision-making in the series came with some serious questions as the Bucks lost double-digit leads in both Games 4 and 5. His decision not to use timeouts during the final possessions of Game 5’s fourth quarter and overtime period was highly criticized.
Budenholzer was head coach of the Bucks for five seasons and led them to the 2021 NBA Finals where they won their first championship in 50 years. The Bucks made the playoffs in all five seasons he was at the helm, moving past the first round every season except this one.
“The decision to make this change was very difficult,” said Bucks general manager Jon Horst in a statement. “Bud helped lead our team for five incredible seasons, to the Bucks’ first title in 50 years, and into an era of sustained success. We are grateful for the culture of winning and leadership that Bud helped create in Milwaukee.”
The news that Milwaukee had decided to part ways with its most successful head coach in decades sent shockwaves through the NBA world.
I get why this decision was made, but maaaan, it’s a brutal business when you can be fired less than two years after winning the title because you lost a series during which A) Giannis missed 2.5 games, and B) Your brother died. https://t.co/E2QPtpv7ao
— Rob Dauster (@RobDauster) May 4, 2023
Just awful. It’s a cold business. Two years removed from a title and you get fired within a week of losing your sibling. https://t.co/pQaCUEjjjH
— Christian Hernandez (@BigIdiotHeatGuy) May 4, 2023
Why fire a coach for a season that was “not a failure”? https://t.co/AcCItMAdwO
— 𝓕 🪄 (@Fiizop) May 4, 2023
[ESPN]
