BREAKING: Bucks fire Mike Budenholzer from head coach position
The Milwaukee Bucks have announced that they've dismissed head coach Mike Budenholzer shortly after getting eliminated by the Miami Heat in the playoffs. Budenholzer was the team's head coach since 2018 and helped the organization win an NBA title in 2021 against the Phoenix Suns.
Budenholzer led the Bucks to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference this season with a 58-24 record. With that, they had home court advantage over the rest of the East. However, their season was cut short after Jimmy Butler's heroics took over the series and eliminated them in five games in the first round of the postseason.
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. https://t.co/wQp0Zk3lxi
Coach Bud started his coaching career under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. He won four championships with the organization before transitioning to being a head coach for other teams. He left the Spurs and became a head coach for the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2017.
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The Bucks fired Mike Budenholzer at a low point in his life
The Bucks' decision to part ways with Mike Budenholzer was heavily due to their disappointing postseason run that was quickly cut short by the Heat. In just five games, Milwaukee's season was over and Bud's future with the team was already in dangerous waters.
However, an aspect that most fans are completely unaware of is that coach Bud was going through something difficult in his personal life. It wasn't until Darvin Ham told the media about what his former colleague was going through in an interview after the Bucks lost to the Heat.
"Coach Bud is going through a lot on a personal level. He just lost a brother. He and I have been texting. I love those guys. They’re a part of my basketball family," Ham said.
Darvin Ham on the Milwaukee Bucks, Mike Budenholzer and Giannis Antetokounmpo losing in the first round: “Coach Bud is going through a lot on a personal level. He just lost a brother. He and I have been texting. I love those guys. They’re a part of my basketball family.” https://t.co/yqVzLw9FVH
It was later confirmed that coach Bud lost his brother through a tragic car accident in the middle of their series against Miami. He wasn't vocal about it and decided to keep it in between closed doors and carried on in leading the team. Budenholzer even went as far as not leaving his post to be with his family.
Also read: Bobby Marks questions Mike Budenholzer’s position with the Milwaukee Bucks, says ‘everyone has an expiration date
Steve Kerr reacts to Mike Budenholzer's firing
From one championship coach to another, Steve Kerr shared his disappointment to the Bucks' decision to part ways with Budenholzer. After finding out that coach Bud has been fired, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors was quickly asked about what he thought of the situation.
"My first response is not necessarily shock. It’s more disappointment, because Bud is a fantastic coach and just won a championship and has been wildly successful in his coaching career."
What was Steve Kerr's reaction to Mike Budenholzer's firing?
"My first response is not necessarily shock. It’s more disappointment, because Bud is a fantastic coach and just won a championship and has been wildly successful in his coaching career."
Both Kerr and Bud come from the Gregg Popovich coaching tree for their tenure with the Spurs.