1. Hiring Adrian Griffin as head coach
Horst’s worst move happened in the 2023-24 season. They fired Mike Budenholzer after he won 271 games in five seasons leading the franchise. Bud had them in the playoffs every year and won a championship in 2021. He was no stranger to the hot seat, and it was time to move on.
Horst chose first-year head coach Adrian Griffin as his replacement. The long-time assistant lasted just 43 games before being fired. The Bucks were 30-13, but things were not working. From tactical errors to relationship issues, the Bucks did not wait. He was dismissed midseason with years left on his contract.
They replaced him with Doc Rivers, which did not save the Bucks from a first-round playoff exit. Horst’s airball on his second head coaching hire was massive. The pressure to win another championship is gigantic in Milwaukee. They cannot afford moves like this or Giannis Antetokounmpo may demand a trade.
Overall, Jon Horst has been outstanding in leading the Milwaukee Bucks. They are one of the best teams every year and won a championship. The 41-year-old hopes to avoid adding more moves to this list, but everybody makes mistakes. The positives have well outweighed the negatives, and Horst must keep it that way if he wants to retain his superstar.