Steve Kerr, Darvin Ham, Damian Lillard and NBA world reacts to Mike Budenholzer being fired by Milwaukee Bucks
Mike Budenholzer has been fired after five seasons as the Milwaukee Bucks head coach.
He had unprecedented regular-season success, leading the Bucks to the most victories in the NBA during his time as head coach, winning nearly 70% of the team's games. He was coach of the year in 2019 and led the team in 2021 to the NBA championship.
But there were also early playoff defeats, none more disappointing than this year when the team lost in the first round as the No. 1 seed to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.
Here's the reaction to Budenholzer's dismissal, which happened eight days after that stunning series loss to the Heat:
Bucks management on the firing of Mike Budenholzer
A letter from Bucks General Manager Jon Horst and Team President Peter Feigin. pic.twitter.com/8Y8t8V918x
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 4, 2023
Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Mike Dunlap said he was 'honored' to have worked for Coach Bud
Life, indeed, a box of chocolates. So honored to have worked for C. Bud, staff,
players, & Bucks organization. Incredible experience, rich w/ great friendships & fans that are second to none! Go Bucks!!!— Mike Dunlap (@CoachMikeDunlap) May 4, 2023
Remembering Budenholzer led the Bucks to the NBA title in 2021
As a life-long Bucks fan, I’ll forever consider Coach Bud a Bucks legend for bringing home a title and setting off one of the best parties Milwaukee has seen in years. Thanks for everything, Coach! https://t.co/keo04vIfts pic.twitter.com/gFkAvAW5WK
— David C. Crowley (@DavidCrowleyWI) May 4, 2023
Thank you for everything Bud 💚💚 https://t.co/Irkl2NIJsE pic.twitter.com/9r4Opyig2m
— Bucks Lead (@BucksLead) May 4, 2023
Champion. pic.twitter.com/5nUzbuBmwR
— Bucks Nation (@MKEBucksNation) May 4, 2023
Mike Budenholzer walked in the door and the Bucks became a stable, winning org. Found ways to maximise the strengths of rosters that were far from perfect and always felt he was harshly critiqued. A championship coach. I hope he’s seen as a legend in the history of the franchise.
— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) May 4, 2023
NBA championships don't equal long-term stability for coaches
The Bucks, Lakers and Raptors have all parted ways with championship-winning coaches 😳
(h/t @BobbyMarks42) pic.twitter.com/t4waOU5SMy— ESPN (@espn) May 4, 2023
That baffles Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard
Folks out here firing championship coaches as soon as they don’t win the chip …
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) May 4, 2023
Warriors coach Steve Kerr isn't shocked but said Budenholzer's firing is 'sad news for the coaching profession'
"This is the business we're in... Expectations every year for every team are so high, and only one team can win. It's sad news for the coaching profession."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacts to the Bucks firing Mike Budenholzer
(via @kirstenlizmoran)pic.twitter.com/kbBqvGPiZQ— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 5, 2023
Lakers coach and former Bucks assistant Darvin Ham said Budenholzer was 'pro-player coach' and praised him for his teaching abilities
Darvin Ham on Mike Budenholzer’s firing pic.twitter.com/DdrGJnsBrj
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 4, 2023
The Bucks won just one game as the No. 1 seed in the first-round series loss to the Heat
The Bucks did something that hadn't been done in 54 years 😬 pic.twitter.com/NBWC2K5VrU
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 4, 2023
Who are the candidates to be the Bucks' next head coach? Nick Nurse and Frank Vogel are suggestions.
Not every coach is perfect but I honestly think Coach Bud is ideal for what the Raptors need right now and Nick Nurse is ideal for what the Bucks need right now.
A swap would be funny but also would make tons of sense— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) May 4, 2023
I’m going to speculate that Bucks already have Nick Nurse lined up and wanted to move swiftly to secure his services
I don’t think they fire Bud 8 days after the season ends unless they know they have an upgrade to replace him https://t.co/CLy0v8MjZ6— Paul Henning (@brewcitypaul) May 5, 2023
Frank Vogel should be the Bucks next head coach. Easy call.
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) May 4, 2023
NBA analysts, commentators weigh in on Mike Budenholzer's firing
Are we sure the Bucks season wasn’t a FAILURE?! It’s had to be. Otherwise they wouldn’t have fired their Head Coach!!! Don’t mind me tho and Carry the hell on… https://t.co/TClIiBLfJ3
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 4, 2023
Giannis after the Bucks lost to the Heat: “We didn’t make as many adjustments as we could against them."
This is the right call. Budenholzer is a solid coach but doesn't make enough changes in the playoffs going back to when he was with Atlanta. https://t.co/yY1Je20SQR— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 4, 2023
In five games, Jimmy Butler made Jrue Holiday say he will quit soon, made the Bucks fire a champion coach and made Giannis try to convince us to change the definition of the word “failure.” — Dan
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) May 4, 2023
But yes, nobody failed. Folks get fired, OK? Stop with the Disney movie takes. Please. This is what happens when you lose to a play-in team as the favorite to win the title. Bucks didn’t build that arena and give Giannis $230 million to waste his prime. There will be trades, too. https://t.co/Jg3v785j4i
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) May 4, 2023
More: Giannis Antetokounmpo's comments about failure still have the sports world talking
More: Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo finishes third in 2022-23 MVP voting
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Steve Kerr, NBA world reacts after Bucks fire coach Mike Budenholzer
