Bucks hearth Mike Budenholzer after dropping in first spherical of NBA Playoffs as No. 1 seed

The Milwaukee Bucks have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer, in accordance with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The transfer comes every week after the No. 1 seed Bucks had been eradicated in 5 video games by the No. 8 seed Miami Warmth within the first spherical of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Budenholzer helped lead the franchise to its second ever NBA championship in 2021 when Milwaukee defeated the Phoenix Suns in six video games within the NBA Finals.

The Bucks had been thought of the championship favorites heading into the playoffs this 12 months. As an alternative, they turned the primary No. 1 seed to ever solely win one recreation in a primary spherical sequence. Famous person ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo was injured throughout Recreation 1 of the sequence, however returned to play in Recreation 4 and Recreation 5, each of which Milwaukee misplaced.

Budenholzer received 69.3 p.c of his video games throughout his 5 seasons as head coach of the Bucks, amassing a 391-271 general document.

Budenholzer realized his brother died in a automobile accident earlier than Recreation 4 of the primary spherical sequence towards the Warmth, in accordance with The Athletic.

The Bucks went from a fringe playoff crew to an Japanese Convention energy after hiring Budenholzer forward of the 2018-2019 season. Budenholzer turned a 44-win crew right into a 60-win crew in his first 12 months, and helped Antetokounmpo flip in his first of consecutive MVP runs. The Bucks’ large addition for the Bud period was signing free agent heart Brook Lopez forward of his first season. Milwaukee was up 2-0 on the Toronto Raptors within the 2019 Japanese Convention Finals, however misplaced 4 straight video games to finish their season.

The Bucks had been the No. 1 seed within the East subsequent 12 months, however their momentum was stalled by the worldwide pandemic. Milwaukee was then upset within the second spherical of the 2020 NBA Playoffs contained in the bubble by the Miami Warmth.

Milwaukee lastly broke by way of the subsequent 12 months after buying and selling for guard Jrue Vacation following the catastrophe within the bubble. They outlasted Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in a traditional seven-game sequence within the second spherical, and defeated the Suns in six video games within the 2021 NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo had a masterpiece within the championship clincher, placing up 50 factors and making so many clutch free throws.

The final two seasons have featured poor damage luck for Milwaukee. The Bucks had been with out All-Star ahead Khris Middleton once they had been eradicated within the second spherical towards the Boston Celtics within the 2022 playoffs. Antetokounmpo’s damage performed an element of their first spherical exit within the 2023 playoffs.

The 2 most memorable moments for Budenholzer’s Bucks got here throughout the championship run in 2021. Giannis made this wonderful block in Recreation 4:

In Recreation 5, Vacation received a steal and threw an alley-oop to Giannis to safe the victory:

The Bucks all the time had nice groups underneath Budenholzer, however it felt just like the franchise had no selection however to fireplace him after their collapse within the 2023 playoffs. The Bucks’ offense had a historical past of getting stagnant for a protracted stretches underneath Budenholzer, and it lastly price him his job when it occurred towards Miami. Budenholzer made quite a few teaching errors within the sequence, from by no means altering up his coverages on Warmth star Jimmy Butler, to failing to name timeouts on the finish regulation and in extra time throughout the Recreation 5 loss.

The Bucks are going to really feel completely different subsequent 12 months with out Budenholzer. We’ll see what adjustments are in retailer subsequent for Milwaukee.