Mike Budenholzer

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Lore & Background

Budenholzer arrived in Milwaukee on May 17, 2018, with a track record of success from his time with the Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs. In his first season, the Bucks posted a 60–22 record. He was selected as the coach of the East team in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game and won the NBA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, also winning the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year Award. The peak of his tenure came on July 20, 2021, when he led the Bucks to an NBA championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games. The Bucks became the fifth team in NBA history to win the title after losing the first two games. On August 24, 2021, the Bucks signed Budenholzer to a multi-year contract extension. In the 2021–22 season, the Bucks earned the third seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round but fell to the Boston Celtics in seven games in the conference semifinals. In the 2022–23 season, the Bucks finished with the best record in the league. However, Budenholzer was fired on May 4, 2023, after the team lost in five games in the first round to the Miami Heat, who would become the first eight-seed to reach the NBA Finals since the 1998–99 New York Knicks. The move was controversial among fans, with some attributing the loss to Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury and Budenholzer losing his brother in a car crash during the series.

In Their Own Story

The arena hummed with electricity as the clock ticked under ten seconds in the final game of the 2021 NBA Finals. Budenholzer stood near the sideline, hands clasped behind his back, eyes locked on the paint. He did not shout; he did not need to. His players moved with practiced precision, executing the final play that would etch their names into history forever, securing the franchise's first title in 50 years.

Reader's Guide

Mike Budenholzer joined Milwaukee on May 17, 2018, as the new head coach, bringing a reputation for defensive discipline from his previous tenure with Atlanta and San Antonio. During his five seasons in Wisconsin, he cultivated a team identity rooted in elite defense and efficient spacing around star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. His strategic adjustments helped the franchise secure the NBA Championship in 2021, defeating the Phoenix Suns in six games after losing the first two. Budenholzer oversaw multiple playoff appearances, including a 60-win season in his first year. He was known for a calm demeanor on the sidelines despite intense pressure situations. He was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after the 2018–19 season. However, after the 2022–23 season, where the Bucks finished with the best record in the league but lost in the first round to the Miami Heat, Budenholzer was fired on May 4, 2023. The move was controversial among fans, with some questioning the validity due to Antetokounmpo's injury and Budenholzer's personal struggles during the series. His legacy remains tied to the championship banner now hanging in Fiserv Forum.

Did You Know?

• Budenholzer led the Bucks to a 60–22 record in his first season as head coach.
• He won the NBA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career after the 2018–19 season.
• The Bucks became the fifth team in NBA history to win the title after losing the first two games of the 2021 NBA Finals.
• Budenholzer was fired on May 4, 2023, after the Bucks lost in five games to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
• During the 2023 first-round series against the Heat, one of Budenholzer's brothers died in a car accident prior to Game 4.