milwaukee bucks star giannis antetocampo posted a message on his Instagram account thanking Mike Budenholzer for coaching Milwaukee for five seasons, along with photos of the two embracing after winning the 2021 NBA Finals.
“Thank you Coach for five fruitful years,” Antetokounmpo wrote, “We have achieved something incredible and I am forever grateful.”
Budenholzer was fired by Milwaukee following their first-round loss to the Bucks last week. Miami Heat, They entered the playoffs as the NBA’s top overall seed, but lost in five games to the former eighth seed, becoming only the sixth No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose to a No. 8 seed.
However, Antetokounmpo became MVP twice under Budenholzer and the Bucks became one of the best organizations in the NBA during his five seasons as head coach. During his tenure, the Bucks went 271–120 (.693) during the regular season, the best record in the league during that span. The Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals with Budenholzer as head coach, but have also had their share of playoff disappointments — spending 2020 in the bubble and then losing in the first round to Miami last month.
Budenholzer also posted a farewell message on his Instagram account this week, thanking the city of Milwaukee and the Bucks organization.
“It’s been an incredible five years for me and my family,” Budenholzer said on Instagram, “The city of Milwaukee and the entire Bucks organization took us in and treated us like we were part of their own family.
“Together we won a lot. Together we won the NBA Championship. The first championship in 50 years. Memories of the parade, watching the whole city celebrate with the players and staff as the buses made their way through the streets of Milwaukee , that is something we will all cherish forever.”
