Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking Jon Horst’s 5 best moves as general manager

Jon Horst’s best moves with the Milwaukee Bucks — No. 3: Hiring head coach Mike Budenholzer

After underachieving in years prior, Horst signing Mike Budenholzer was a home-run move for Horst and Milwaukee. With success reaching the Eastern Conference Finals previously with Atlanta, Budenholzer brought a consistent approach to a team that was hungry to win but did not quite know how to reach that point.

Everyone in NBA circles probably felt the heat coming from fans and other analysts for the Bucks to make a decision on Budenholzer after the Bucks lost in five games to Miami in the second round of the 2019-20 playoffs. There was pressure all around, and the tension was palpable heading into the 2020-21 season. If Milwaukee had another early exit, we may not be sitting here with Budenholzer as the head coach.

Fast forward through the playoffs, and Budenholzer made the adjustments that he was once criticized for not making. Milwaukee swept Miami in round one, snuck past Brooklyn in round two, took down his former team in Atlanta in six, topped off with a six-game series against Phoenix in the Finals.

Exhale, Bucks fans, if you haven’t already. Milwaukee is a championship team, and there is credit to give to Horst for the perfect fit. Budenholzer agreed to a three-year extension in August, giving them a chance to repeat with the man who got them there first.