Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Mike Budenholzer after the top-seeded team exited early in the first round of the NBA playoffs after losing to the Miami Heat.
The Bucks announced that it has already parted ways with Budenholzer, who has been with the basketball team for roughly five years.
Milwaukee Bucks Fire Head Coach Mike Budenholzer
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a call during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on February 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
As per ESPN, the general manager of the Bucks, Jon Horst, announced the decision in a statement on May 4, Thursday. He emphasized that "this change was very difficult," noting that the former coach helped them win their first title after a long 50 years.
The Bucks general manager states they are "grateful for the culture of winning and leadership that Bud helped create in Milwaukee." Furthermore, Horst notes that the change would allow the team to recalibrate their focus and energy to pursue their comeback in the upcoming championship season.
ESPN notes that sources disclosed to Andrian Wojnarowski that the Bucks head coach still had two years left in his deal, which reportedly costs to the tune of $16 million.
According to Bleacher Report, NBA fans wondered about the status of Budenholzer after the early exit of the Bucks. Milwaukee ended the season with a 128-126 overtime loss in the hands of the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat.
The sports outlet notes that the Bucks are the first-ever top-seed team to have lost the first round of the NBA playoffs for over a decade. In 2012, the Chicago Bulls faced the same fate.
As a response, the Bucks have dismissed its five-season head coach, which has been with the team since 2018.
It is worth noting that Budenholzer previously expressed that one of his brothers passed away right before Game 4 started, NBC Sports reports.
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NBA Twitter Reacts to Bucks Coach Firing
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on April 04, 2023 in Washington, DC.
A Twitter user, who goes by The Fanatic Esquires, tweeted that the incident "goes to show NBA head coaches are expendable."
Meanwhile, Kevin Gray Jr. points out that Budenholzer parted ways with the Bucks after handing the team a championship two seasons ago. Collyn Richardson echoed the same sentiments, adding that it is "crazy."
Twitter user, Ball Room Service, empathizes with the former head coach, noting that he just lost a loved one. Afterward, his team parted ways with him. @MemePope_ on Twitter notes that it has been four days since the brother of the five-season coach passed away.
Before joining the Bucks, Budenholzer served as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, which lasted for five seasons. Before his stint with the Hawks, he was a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach for 17 years, between 1996 and 2013
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