Bucks Fire Coach Mike Budenholzer After Playoff Collapse

The coach spent five seasons in Milwaukee.

The Bucks have parted ways with Mike Budenholzer after five seasons together on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“The decision to make this change was very difficult,” Bucks general manager Jon Horst said 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. This is an opportunity for us to refocus and reenergize our efforts as we continue building toward our next championship season.”

This decision comes after the Bucks, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the No. 8-seeded Heat. It was the earliest playoff exit for the Bucks during Budenholzer’s tenure. 

As the top seed in the conference, the Bucks were projected to win the title this season by various NBA experts, including some at Sports Illustrated. The team only winning one playoff game after finishing the regular season with a 58–24 record came as a shock to many fans.

In Budenholzer’s first season with the Bucks, during the 2018–19 season, he won NBA Coach of the Year as he led the team to a 60–22 record, which was the best record regular season record during his tenure in Milwaukee. Two seasons later, the Bucks won the NBA title over the Suns in six games. 

Budenholzer, who led the Bucks to finish first in the Central division in each of his five seasons at the helm, completes his tenure in Milwaukee with a 271–120 regular season record.