Milwaukee Bucks fire coach Mike Budenholzer

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Bucks have fired head coach Mike Budenholzer, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, an ESPN insider. 

BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks dismissed coach Mike Budenholzer, sources tell ESPN. Budenholzer is out after the East’s top-seed suffered a first-round loss to the Miami Heat. pic.twitter.com/wQp0Zk3lxi

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2023

This comes eight days after the Bucks season came to an end in the first round of the NBA Playoffs to the Miami Heat in five games, 4-1.

Budenholzer joined the Bucks in 2018-19 after five seasons as the Atlanta Hawks head coach. He helped the Bucks to the 2021 NBA Championship, the first in 50 years for the Bucks franchise.

In his five seasons, he is 271-120 as the Bucks head coach in the regular season, the best winning percentage in franchise history. In the playoffs, Budenholzer was 39-26 with the Bucks.

Budenholzer won Coach of the Year with the Bucks in 2018-19 when the Bucks were 60-22, the third-most wins in franchise history for the Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks released the following statement: 

“The decision to make this change was very difficult,” said Bucks general manager Jon Horst. “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.”