MILWAUKEE — Mike Budenholzer’s tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks may have only lasted five years, but it was eventful.
The Bucks hired Budenholzer in 2018, replacing interim coach Joe Prunty, who was put in place after the team let Jason Kidd go.
He was the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks for five years, until the team’s ownership decided to rebuild in 2018. Before that, Budenholzer was a longtime assistant under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs.
First season with the Bucks
The Bucks made a big jump during Budenholzer’s first season. They won 60 games and Budenholzer was named NBA Coach of the Year for the second time.
But in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors in six games. The Raptors defensive wall against Giannis Antetokounmpo helped change the series.
Second season with the Bucks
The next season was the COVID year, and the playoffs were in the Orlando bubble. Budenholzer’s Bucks got national praise when they declined to play in a playoff game after the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis.
Later on, the Bucks were upset in the conference semifinals by the Miami Heat.
Championship season with the Bucks
The following season also got shortened by COVID. Things looked bleak for Budenholzer and the Bucks when they fell behind the Brooklyn Nets two games-to-none in the conference semifinals. Brooklyn won Game 2 by 39 points. There were whispers that Budenholzer was in trouble. But then, the Bucks came back to win that series, becoming the first Bucks team to win Game 7 on the road.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bucks overcame a Game 1 loss at home — and a Giannis injury — to beat the Hawks in six games. The team advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974.
In the finals, the Bucks lost the first two games to the Phoenix Suns. Once again, the team stormed back to win the next four games, clinching the Bucks first NBA Championship in 50 years. Giannis was the finals’ MVP, scoring 50 points in the clinching win at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021.
Mike Budenholzer was on top of the NBA world. He was the second coach in Bucks’ history to win an NBA title, joining Larry Costello.
Fourth season with the Bucks
The Bucks won 51 games in the 2021-2022 season, but lost Game 7 to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Milwaukee was up 3-2, but lost Game 6 at home and Game 7 on the road.
Final season with the Bucks
The Bucks won 58 games and touted the NBA’s best record in the 2022-2023 season.
The top-seeded Bucks were stunned by the eighth-seeded Heat, 4-1, in the first round. Budenholzer faced criticism for his coaching in the series. It was later revealed that his brother was killed in a car crash during the series.