Milwaukee Bucks fans are already disgruntled down 2-0 to Indiana in the first round, seemingly en route to back-to-back playoff exits at the hands of the Pacers and a third straight first round defeat overall. With Game 3 scheduled for 7 PM CT on Friday, Thursday morning brought a dose of news many Bucks faithful found hard to get down. Indeed, a mix of vomit emojis and sarcastic ROFLs would aptly summarize the general response to the announcement that general manager Jon Horst has been formally extended.
Jon Horst Has Had Complicated Tenure as Milwaukee Bucks GM
Around 10 AM CT, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news.
The Milwaukee Bucks and general manager Jon Horst have agreed to a multiyear contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks and Horst’s agent, Brian Elfus, reached a new deal this week for the NBA championship executive and one-time exec of the year before his contract expired. pic.twitter.com/2xt6PSk4se
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2025
Despite the fact that Horst helped bring a title to Milwaukee in 2021, the fanbase has soured on him since. A common gripe is the organizational inability to develop draft picks under Horst. Beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the team’s current rotation players, only AJ Green and Andre Jackson began their careers in Milwaukee. Kevin Porter Jr., whom the team drafted in 2019, has only now, since being acquired at this year’s trade deadline, played his first minutes as a Buck. The franchise is bereft of organic talent.
To make matters worse, trading youngster AJ Johnson to acquire Kyle Kuzma did not go over well. Fans are starved for promising prospects, of which Johnson was certainly one. Moreover, giving up Khris Middleton as part of that trade, an already unpopular move, has disgusted fans even more in light of Kuzma’s shooting struggles. While Middleton was clearly slowing down, efficient shot creation remains something he does very well.
The grumblings don’t end there. Although Damian Lillard is a fan favorite, juicy draft capital was surrendered to acquire him, as well as Jrue Holiday, the team’s point guard during their Finals run. Whatever the reasons for it (i.e., not having Giannis last year), the recent lack of playoff success fuels these complaints. Not everyone is happy, either, with Doc Rivers‘ hiring as head coach midway through last season. In the Lillard-Rivers era, Milwaukee has gone 2-6 in the postseason.
Fans Not Happy To Hear Horst News, Fear the Worst for Giannis Antetokounmpo Future
The above grievances come through in fans’ comments on social media. “He really got a contract extension for trading for Kuzma😂,” one wrote in the comment section of Charania’s tweet.
Others made similar remarks:
“HOW IS HE EXTENDED AFTER SIGNING DOC AND DARVIN HAM IN THE BUCKS?!💀.”
“Bucks fans were waiting for a firing not an extension😭.”
“Giannis surly didn’t approve this, same guy that traded away Jrue Holiday.”
Referencing the Bucks’ 0-2 hole, one commenter quipped, “This feels like a bad time to be extending him😂.”
Some were concise in their shock, responding with comments like “Laughable,” “Wtf😂😂,” and a baffled question: “K but why?”
For at least the last two years, media outlets like ESPN have obsessively peddled Giannis trade scenarios, often without much merit or even directly contrary to the superstar’s own statements, but some fans are worried that inking Horst indeed spells the end of the Antetokounmpo era.
“Giannis is gone,” lamented one. Another dubbed Horst “The man who will trade Giannis.”
These fears are not wholly unfounded. If Milwaukee continues to underachieve in the playoffs, something has to give. If Horst is staying put, fundamental change is more likely to come elsewhere. While that hardly equates to Giannis being traded, there is room for pessimism.
At the same time, optimism has a place. The Bucks have made the playoffs every year since Horst became GM before the 2017-18 season. How much that has to do with Horst’s management versus Giannis’ heroics is up for debate, but the floor is there. For many, though, the team’s ceiling matters more. And they don’t envision another Finals berth with Horst at the helm.
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