The Milwaukee Bucks fired head coach Jason Kidd in a surprise move Tuesday (AEDT).
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The Bucks (23-22) have lost four of their last five entering Tuesday's game against Phoenix and have a slim one-game lead on the Pistons for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Assistant coach Joe Prunty will lead the team against the Suns.
“We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make a coaching change,” general manager Jon Horst said in a release . “We believe that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team towards the next level, bringing us closer to our goal of competing for championships.
"Jason led a historic turnaround during his first season and would guide our team to two playoff appearances. He also played a meaningful role in helping to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. We thank him for all of his contributions and wish him the best.”
The team has a formidable young roster, led by All-Star starter Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the talent hasn’t resulted in a upper-echelon team in the conference.
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
Sources: Jason Kidd hasn’t been officially told yet. Giannis Antetokounmpo is devastated. https://t.co/FGaqQybJtn
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 22, 2018
Kidd, as recently as last week, blamed the lack of results on a lack of experience.
“I think when you, you know, become 25 or, you know, in the 28 range, you tend to think about the game. We’re talking about kids, that are thinking about trying to put the ball in the basket. And they all believe they can do it, and until we can think about being a team and making a play and being unselfish, you know, good things happen and we’ve seen it,” Kidd said after a 106-101 loss to the Heat on Friday. “And there’s no coaching, there’s nothing that you can do but go through it and learn. And we can keep telling them what’s coming, as a coach, and we can tell them what to do, but it’s a finally, the final, it’s up to them to make that decision.”
Well, the Bucks front office made a decision Tuesday— a decision that maybe a different coach can produce wins.
Kidd, 44, went 139-152 in three-plus seasons with the Bucks and made the playoffs twice.