The reigning champion Bucks and head coach Mike Budenholzer have agreed to a three-year extension, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Budenholzer, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, helped lead the Bucks to their first championship in 50 years. After the 2020 playoffs, in which the Bucks were defeated in the second round by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Heat, there were questions about how Budenholzer’s regular-season success translated to postseason victories, which went as far back as his days with the Hawks.
But during this year’s run to the championship, Budenholzer showed more willingness to adapt and to lean on his stars for heavy minutes, playing all of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton 38+ minutes a night, a stark contrast to the 30.8 MPG he played Antetokounmpo in the 2020 playoffs.
Budenholzer had been on the final year of his deal, but this extension will keep him with the Bucks through the 2024/25 season.
There must be an alternative universe where Durant foot does not touch the line and Bud is now selling pencils at the street corner. What a reversal of fortune for the Budster.
Is he lucky as hell yes. But he deserve the extension, also yes. He made the adjustments necessary in the finals, what looked like what was going to be a sweep after being 2-0 turned into a championship in 6. Were they very simple adjustments, yes, but at the end of the day he won a championship in a series that looked like a lost cause. So maybe not a long extension, but an extension nonetheless, he deserves a shot to do it again with this team, and prove it just wasn’t a combination of luck and Giannis.
Well, as the article says, he did finally bend a little and make some adjustments this postseason. Besides, I think Giannis likes him, and management/ownership seem to want to keep him happy.
says the hater
While the extension is deserving, three years isn’t the confidence I’d think would be conveyed after winning a championship, unless it was his call.
Interesting point. Chauncey Billups got 4 years guaranteed, plus a team option 5th.
Not a fan. He’s been outcoached last three yrs. Even in Nets series and Hawks series. He was lucky to beat Nets. And all they had was KD. I’ll give him credit. He did make adjustments in Suns series. He was much better in Finals. I guess you can’t get rid of him after they win. Like I said, I’m not a fan. Maybe he’s finally found his way.
Best Coach in basketball period.
I would think that distinction falls to Popovich until he retires.
Ban this person /s.
Seriously, though, this is such a bad homer take. I’d bet the planet that you’re a Bucks fan.
I would bet this person is just commenting to get a reaction.
(He won.)
Not a Bucks fan, just likes extremes.
Eas a bucks fan I can’t get down with this take. Bud is a hell of a regular season coach, but he had been horrible in the post season. The bucks won despite him. Of course he’s going to get an extension, they just won the title, but if they don’t win again in the next two years he won’t see year 3.
30.8 MPG for Giannis in 2020 is pretty misleading given the easy first round matchup and his injury in round 2
This is another story that includes te idea that HC Bud does not make adjustments, his reputation, without saying what the fuss is about; and the comment section follows likewise. The point is the adjustments themselves— nor the policy that was or was not adjusted— cannot be judged for merit until specified. And that’s what the clever critics are afraid of.
But that is the perception, and so, only three years added (so far).
I think it is Giannis that does not want adjustments relied on, and Bud is a coach that not only believes in making peace with the team star, or shaping a team around the star, but in shaping everyone including himself around the star player.
Bud’s way won!
When I played, it was all about the coach and how he felt about his authority… but that was HS.
Did you score 4 touchdowns in 1 game..? I mean..score the winning basket or anything cool like that..?
(Not busting on ya, and points if you get the 4 TD reference)
No extra points… ?… and I think my team started the trend of not bothering to get the ball to the post.
Giannis’ free throw shooting is a bigger detriment than Bud’s coaching or, at least, very close to it.
It was..except for the game that mattered the most.
Until next season, when fans will again be counting to 10 as fast as possible, to try and convince the refs he takes too long.
True dat!