To say that the Milwaukee Bucks 2023-24 NBA season did not go as planned would be a severe understatement. After firing Mike Budenholzer (who was recently named the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns), the Bucks went through an extensive coaching search that led to their hiring of Adrian Griffin. The other two finalists for the job were former Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse (who accepted the Philadelphia 76ers’ job) and Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson.
According to some rumors surrounding the team, general manager Jon Horst wanted to hire Nurse. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo informed the front office and team owners that he wanted to play for Griffin (again, according to rumors). Well, after a dysfunctional 30-13 start, Griffin was fired.
Again, according to rumor, once Griffin was fired, Horst wanted to give the head coaching job to Atkinson. However, ownership trumped him and hired Doc Rivers instead.
These developments, if they are true, have reportedly led to Horst’s interest in the open front office job leading the Detroit Pistons.
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers Fired Giannis Antetokounmpo Favorite Josh Oppenheimer
For years, Giannis has said that does not want to have any say in front office decisions. That includes coaching, though it is relatively accepted in Milwaukee that his recommendation to the front office and ownership was that they hire Griffin as head coach.
While it is not known what, if any, say Giannis had in the hiring of Rivers, the new Bucks’ head coach is apparently not too worried about making tough decisions regarding the people his superstar likes having around.
In a video posted on Bleacher Report today (Friday), NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Rivers has fired at least three assistant coaches, including Giannis-favorite Josh Oppenheimer.
“Sources have related to me that a few assistants on the Bucks’ staff were dismissed recently. Some of those assistants that I can name: Josh Oppenheimer, Sidney Dobner, and DJ Bakker.
“You know, a name that sticks out is Oppenheimer. He and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been really close. Giannis has credited Josh with helping him get his shot better. They spent a lot of time together.
“So that’s definitely a blow right there.”
Oppenheimer was in his second stint with the Bucks, having previously been a coach on the staffs of Larry Drew and Jason Kidd from 2013-2016. Mike Budenholzer brought him back in 2020 and Griffin kept him on staff.
Why Did Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers Fire Josh Oppenheimer and Others?
The simple fact of the matter is that Oppenheimer, Dobner, Bakker, and many others that finished the season on the Bucks’ coaching staff were not hired by Rivers himself. A long-time NBA head coach, Rivers has an idea of the kind of coaches he believes he works well with. Apparently, none of the three listed above fit the mold of what he is looking for in an assistant coach.
The firing of Oppenheimer, however, as been something that Bucks fans have been wanting to happen for some time now. In their minds, Oppenheimer has caused many a good shooter to regress rather than improve once they have signed with Milwaukee.
While just three names were listed by Haynes, he seems to indicate that there were more let go. It will be interesting to see if he retains top Bucks assistants Vin Baker and Joe Prunty.
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