‘Thank you for five meaningful years of coaching’: Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo posts farewell message to recently fired Milwaukee head coach Mike Budenholzer
- Budenholzer was recently fired following Milwaukee’s first-round playoff exit
- Antetokounmpo had openly criticized the team’s defensive game plan against Miami
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Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo posted on Instagram expressing gratitude for his time playing under former head coach Mike Budenholzer.
“Thanks for five meaningful years Coaching,” Antetokounmpo captioned two photos of him and Budenholzer embracing after the Bucks won the 2021 NBA Championship. “We’ve accomplished something incredible and I’m eternally grateful.”
Budenholzer was recently fired after Milwaukee went to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs after his decision-making and game planning were called into question along the way.
Antetokounmpo himself had openly criticized the team’s defensive game plan in regards to guarding Heat superstar Jimmy Butler.
“I don’t know, compose him even more, try to make him pass the ball,” said Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a message thanking his former head coach
Antetokounmpo also criticized Mike Budenholzer’s defensive game plan after the series
Budenholzer led Milwaukee to an NBA Finals victory over the Phoenix Suns in 2021
“Maybe change the matchup a bit, give Jrue [Holiday] a break. I don’t think we did the right thing as a team [adjustment] or we didn’t make as many adjustments as we could against him.’
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra also openly questioned Budenholzer’s decision not to use a timeout on one of the Bucks’ last possessions in the series.
Budenholzer himself posted one farewell message on his Instagram account says, “It’s been five incredible years for me and my family.
“The City of Milwaukee and the entire Bucks organization took us in and treated us as if we were part of their own family.
“Together we have won a lot. Together we won an NBA championship. The first championship in 50 years. The memories of the parade, seeing the whole town partying with the players and staff as the buses drove through the streets of Milwaukee, is something we will all cherish forever.”
Budenholzer was responsible for turning the Bucks into the perennial contender. In 2021, he guided the team to its first NBA championship since 1971.
During his tenure, the Bucks put up a very impressive 271-120, which was the best record in the league for that span.
Budenholzer’s job status had previously been called into question following the 2020 playoff loss to Miami, but he instead gave a three-year extension after winning the NBA Finals the following year.
This year, the Bucks won 58 games during the regular season under Budenholzer and entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.