The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly fired head coach Jason Kidd, with Joe Prunty slated to take over as interim coach starting with Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
In news that had started to feel increasingly likely and yet for many may also have felt like it would never come, reports on Monday afternoon suggest that the Milwaukee Bucks have fired head coach Jason Kidd.
Prior to the visit of the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, the Bucks are eighth in the Eastern Conference and just one game ahead of the ninth placed Detroit Pistons.
The news was first reported on Twitter by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Milwaukee has fired coach Jason Kidd, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 22, 2018
Following Wojnarowski’s tweet, the floodgates opened with countless of the NBA’s other leading reporters and insiders sharing information they had heard regarding the change.
In news with the most immediate importance, Wojnarowski reports that assistant coach Joe Prunty will take on the job as interim head coach starting with Monday’s game against the Suns.
Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty will be installed as interim coach, league sources tell ESPN. He will coach Bucks against Phoenix tonight.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 22, 2018
Chris Haynes, also of ESPN, noted that at the time of the report Jason Kidd had not been informed of the news, and that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo who has always spoken highly of Kidd is “devastated” by the news.
Sources: Jason Kidd hasn’t been officially told yet. Giannis Antetokounmpo is devastated. https://t.co/FGaqQybJtn
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 22, 2018
With a record of 23-22, the Bucks have fallen off the pace in the Eastern Conference and rather than living up to expectations of 50 wins and potentially holding home court advantage in the playoffs, Milwaukee may yet find themselves in a battle to make the postseason.
According to David Aldridge of NBA.com, that underachievement is what sealed Kidd’s fate.
League sources confirm that the Bucks have fired head coach Jason Kidd (@wojespn first). Source says ownership felt Milwaukee was “underachieving” this year; Bucks are currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) January 22, 2018
Wojnarowski also points to deeper trouble in terms of internal relationships as a driving factor in the decision.
Bucks made move on Kidd based upon dropping into the 8th seed in the East, frayed relationships in organization and general non-alignment, league sources tell ESPN. Bucks job will be most sought after of offseason, largely because of @Giannis_An34.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 22, 2018
Ryen Russillo of ESPN went a step further noting that Kidd’s relationship with rehabbing star Jabari Parker was in a less than ideal place too.
Not sure how much his relationship w/ Jabari factored in but was told they weren’t speaking. https://t.co/PsibxRwUms
— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) January 22, 2018
Kidd, of course, took over as the Bucks head coach under contentious circumstances back in 2014. Following a failed attempt at leveraging his way into a position with greater personnel influence with the Brooklyn Nets, Kidd landed in Milwaukee as the head coaching job was pulled from under Larry Drew.
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Having inherited a rebuilding team that had hit a franchise low in the year before his arrival, Kidd impressed in his first season by guiding the Bucks to the playoffs where they lost 4-2 in a competitive series with the Chicago Bulls.
Much of the success of that season was built on an exceptional defense that ranked second in the NBA, but the rest of the league would quickly adjust to Kidd’s over-aggressive trapping scheme, which is more than could be said for the coach himself.
The team’s inclination to give up open shots at the rim and from behind the arc became a long running cause of frustration for Bucks fans, and even with the emergence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and increasing talent around the roster, Kidd was unable to make the kind of strides with the Bucks that many had expected the team should have been able to.
Confidence and indeed expectations soared following another 4-2 first round exit last season, as the Bucks at least had moments when they left the more experienced Toronto Raptors reeling. Kidd’s inability to follow up on that this season, even with the injection of more talent in the form of Eric Bledsoe, would ultimately cost him his job.
Kidd finished up his time in Milwaukee with a coaching record of 139-152 (.478).
Now the focus turns to who his replacement will be. High profile names like Monty Williams and David Fizdale will likely be near the top of Milwaukee’s list but with an excellent mix of talent, the Bucks will have the luxury of being able to wait to find the right candidate, if they so desire.
Next: Win In 6 Podcast #177: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury, playoff battle
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