The Milwaukee Bucks, anchored by the generational talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo, have established themselves as perennial title contenders. Yes, the saga of replacing championship-winning coach Mike Budenholzer has been nothing short of smooth, culminating in a series of coaching missteps that have left the franchise scrambling.
The front office appears to have fumbled the hiring process not once but twice, potentially passing on the perfect fit in Kenny Atkinson, who has been very successful in guiding the Cleveland Cavaliers over the past two seasons. Per former ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks interviewed Atkinson after firing Budenholzer but didn't hire him.
Bucks' coaching situation has been brutal
The first flub was the Adrian Griffin experiment. Following a shocking first-round playoff exit in 2023, the Bucks made the difficult decision to part ways with Mike Budenholzer, who guided the team to their first NBA title in 50 years.
The subsequent coaching search quickly narrowed to a few key names, including proven winner Nick Nurse, veteran and long-time assistant and former Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, and Toronto Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin. Ultimately, the Bucks chose Adrian Griffin, who was a first-time head coach.
The reasoning was reportedly influenced by Giannis' preference for a familiar face with prior playing experience, which was a big gamble and an attempt to introduce a new voice without disruption but proved to be disastrously short-sighted.
The short-lived Griffin experiment was marked by a lack of chemistry, a botched defensive scheme for a team built on defense, and questionable in-game management.
The potential missed opportunity was Nick Nurse, whom the Bucks organization reportedly strongly supported. Ultimately, he was removed from consideration and swiftly hired by the Philadelphia 76ers. However, Kenny Atkinson was a reported runner-up to Griffin. Atkinson, who had been lauded for his development work with the Brooklyn Nets and his experience as a Golden State Warriors lead assistant, offered a blend of head coaching experience and innovative, modern ideas. The decision to choose a rookie coach over a highly respected, proven candidate like Atkinson quickly unraveled.
The second error was the Doc Rivers Hail Mary. The Adrian Griffin experiment lasted a mere 43 games. Despite having a great record (30-13), the internal dynamics and defensive struggles were far too much to bear. The Bucks dismissed Griffin midseason, creating the rare and desperate situation of a title contender needing a coach in January. The second coaching search was then even more truncated and rushed.
The familiar narrative resulted in the Bucks quickly targeting Doc Rivers, as they hired him only a day after firing Griffin. Rivers, a championship-winning coach, provided the established name and authoritative voice the organization felt were lacking.
This was a major risk, as Rivers' resume is also fraught with historical postseason shortcomings, including blowing three 3-1 playoff series leads against three teams. Furthermore, the move put the Milwaukee Bucks on the hook for massive coaching salaries, paying Budenholzer, Griffin, and Rivers simultaneously.
Once again, Kenny Atkinson was left behind. In the immediate aftermath of the Griffin firing, he was again cited as a strong candidate, who was reportedly a runner-up to Rivers as well, proving his continued high regard around the league and his interest in the Bucks job.
After firing Griffin, The Athletic (subscription required) reported that Atkinson was a fallback option if the Bucks could not hire Doc Rivers. The decision to hire Rivers over a coach such as Atkinson, who has a track record of building winning cultures and maximizing player performance, still feels like the second instance of the Bucks prioritizing image over fit.
The underlying thread throughout both coaching searches is the recurring interest in, and subsequent rejection of, Kenny Atkinson. This road not taken further reveals his potential. Atkinson's appeal is clear. He has championship DNA as a lead assistant under Steve Kerr. He learned the intricacies of a modern NBA offense and winning team chemistry on a championship-caliber team.
His stint with the Nets showed his ability to build a winning culture from the ground up and get buy-in from his players. This is exactly what a franchise transitioning from Budenholzer's rigid system needed. Atkinson is also known for incorporating player-development principles and a forward-thinking offensive scheme, which would have been a welcome change for a Bucks team often criticized for stale, late-game execution.
The Milwaukee Bucks were reportedly intrigued by Kenny Atkinson, yet they chose the inexperienced rookie coach and then the high-salaried veteran, skipping the middle ground of a coach ready to evolve a title-contending team.
By hesitating to fully commit to a candidate like Atkinson in the first search, and then bypassing him a second time for a known commodity, the Bucks have created instability where consistency was paramount, turning a coaching transition into an organizational circus. The time wasted and the money spent represent a significant price to pay for what many will view as a pair of massive fumbles, and rightfully so.