Bucks love playing under Budenholzer Nothing but respect for the head coach
When the Bucks made the transition from Jason Kidd to Mike Budenholzer in May 2018, everyone wanted to know how Giannis Antetokounmpo would react.
A year later, Antetokounmpo was named the NBA’s MVP.
And a few days ago, when asked when he knew he could start to reach this kind of all-around potential, Antetokounmpo said: “Now.
“I’m not gonna lie. Now,” said Antetokounmpo on July 31 during a video conference call with reporters from the bubble in Orlando. It was after the Bucks beat Boston for the season re-opener when Antetokounmpo poured in 36 points.
“With Coach Bud; since Coach Bud came to the team, he made me realize that I can do so much more. And today, like in the third quarter — he pulled me to the side and scolded me. Told me that I was not moving enough. It was not quick enough. I was not rebounding the ball.
“And he was hundred percent right.
“I’m not in the best shape right now and I am working to get in better shape — but it made me realize that I
can be so much active, I can have a passing lanes. He just wants me to be active all the time.”
Budenholzer was named by his peers as co-coach of the year earlier this week. He also might be in contention for the to-be-announced media award of the same name, along with Toronto’s Nick Nurse.
Now, Antetokounmpo’s comments say a lot about him. It’s something impressive in this me-first culture right now — to be coachable even when he’s dominant, when it takes a village to guard him, when he’s wealthy and internationally famous. Antetokounmpo could have answered that question a thousand ways, starting with all the work he puts in while no one is looking.
Instead, Antetokounmpo chose to credit his coach.
And that says something about Budenholzer.
When you watch him on the sideline, does he look like a nag? A sideline air horn?
No. And yet the Bucks say over and over again how they appreciate how much Budenholzer finds a way to push them and challenge them, not just to work harder but smarter, in ways that make them better players.
“He brings excellence out of us, that’s all you can ask for in a coach,” said guard Eric Bledsoe through his face mask in the bubble during another videoconference call. “He get on you — even though you know you don’t want to get on.
“I’m not surprised that he won this year. He’s a hell of a person as well.”
There’s that, too. The soon-to-be 51-year old coach somehow lowers the authoritative boundaries that come with his status when life resumes off the court. He shares meals with his guys and takes interest in their interests. He appreciates their individuality and their personal lives even as he knows he has to make great demands on them to win.
But the guy who grew up in Holbrook in Navajo County, Arizona — Holbrook’s population is roughly 50% white and 50% Navajo, Hopi, Mexican and Black — has also been wearing different social justice T-shirts all week. You’ve probably noticed all the Bucks have a message on their jerseys; what may not be obvious is that Bud has been wearing shirts during his pre-game news conferences.
A few days ago it was ‘VOTA’ – the Spanish word for vote.
So beyond the green-light offense that he runs and the confidence he has for players; beyond the way he takes responsibility first in news conferences in the rare occasions his team gives a flat performance; there’s a coach who has, in two years, seemed to win over this team.
“I can’t say enough great things about Coach,” said Pat Connaughton via video. “Obviously — (for) what he’s done here over the last two seasons.
“The standard that he holds us to — making sure that even in wins, we continue to learn, and find ways that we can get better. And the way he interacts with us is incredible. He demands excellence out of us. He demands the effort out of us.
“He’s a great guy to be around. “It speaks to the way we play for him. Obviously you’re playing because it’s your job, but when there’s another relationship there, a friendship and something that goes beyond just the 94 feet — it makes it even a little bit more worthy to play for.”