Milwaukee Bucks: Looking ahead to potentially momentous NBA Awards
By Adam McGee
Coach of the Year
In the 2014-15 season, Mike Budenholzer went 60-22 with the Atlanta Hawks and walked away with the NBA Coach of the Year award. There’s no reason to believe a 60-win season won’t lead to the same recognition this time either.
Budenholzer is nominated alongside Denver Nuggets’ coach Mike Malone and LA Clippers’ coach Doc Rivers.
In his first season with the Bucks, Budenholzer didn’t just lead the Bucks to the kind of record the franchise hadn’t enjoyed in decades, but he did so while completely overhauling the way the team played on both ends.
Budenholzer implemented a three-point heavy, spacing focused offense that unlocked the best of Giannis Antetokounmpo, while also retooling a problematic defense to become truly elite with a dropping scheme anchored by Brook Lopez.
Just as important as the 60 wins to Budenholzer’s case is the Bucks ranking fourth in the NBA in offensive rating, and first in defensive rating. Over the course of the regular season, the Bucks were the NBA’s best team, its most consistent team, and its most complete team. Expect Budenholzer to be rewarded as a result.