Hopefully, Bucks can rebound into being a playoff contender | Letter

Hopefully, Bucks can rebound into being a playoff contender | Letter

The Milwaukee Bucks entered this regular season as not only one of the expected top teams in the Central Division, but to also be among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Instead of a winning record and being playoff-bound, the Bucks community is left with no playoff or play-in appearance, a new head coach on the way and a visibly frustrated Giannis Antetokounmpo nursing notable injuries and questioning management’s efforts in winning ("Giannis Antetokounmpo opens up about future with Bucks,” April 6).

Since the team won the championship in 2021, there’s been this feeling that the Bucks have needed to continuously convince the national consensus they are worthy enough to keep a superstar like Giannis around, who has been publicly committed in staying in Milwaukee up to this point.

Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.

Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Costello is seen at a meeting in 1974. He led the Bucks to the NBA Finals that season before the team fell to the Boston Celtics.

Don Nelson accepted his 'Nellie Day' proclamation. He was a two-time coach of the year for the Bucks in 1983 and 1985.

Don Nelson's .611 winning percentage (540-344) during his 10 years as the Bucks head coach is second-best among coaches in franchise history with at least one full season.

Del Harris shakes hands with Bucks owner Herb Kohl at his introductory news conference in 1987. Harris was the team's head coach for four-plus seasons.

Bucks head coach Del Harris is seen here watching a workout with Larry Krystkowiak in 1991. Krystkowiak would also later become the Bucks head coach 16 years later. Harris was 191-154 across his tenure as the Bucks head coach before stepping down early in the 1991-92 season.

Frank Hamblen was fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after the 1991-92 season. The Bucks were 23-42 under his leadership in 65 games after he took over following Harris' resignation.

Mike Dunleavy, who finished his NBA playing career with the Milwaukee Bucks, became the team's fifth coach in franchise history in 1992. He's introduced by owner Herb Kohl.

Mike Dunleavy finished with a 107-221 record as the Bucks head coach. The Bucks didn't have a winning record in any season under Dunleavy and had three of 10 worst seasons by winning percentage in team history under Dunleavy.

Chris Ford coached the Bucks from 1996-98 and finished with a 69-95 record.

George Karl coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 1998-2003 and had a 205-173 (.542 winning percentage). His 32 playoff games coached are fourth-most of any Bucks coach behind Larry Costello, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer.

Darvin Ham gives George Karl a hug as he high fives Tim Thomas and Ervin Johnson after the Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on 2001.

Terry Porter's hire as Bucks head coach in 2003 was a homecoming. The Milwaukee native Porter attended South Division High School and played college basketball at UW-Stevens Point.

Terry Porter gives directions to Michael Redd and Mo Williams during a game in 2004. Porter coached the Bucks for three seasons (2003-05) and finished with a 71-93 record and one playoff series loss.

An assistant coach for the Bucks during the George Karl years from 1998-2002, Terry Stotts returned to be the head coach in 2005. In 146 games and just short of two full seasons, Stotts went 63-83.

Terry Stotts was fired late in his second season as the Bucks head coach with the team 23-41. It was a steep drop-off after his first season when the Bucks finished 42-40 and were in the playoffs.

Larry Krystkowiak coached the Bucks for 1.5 seasons from 2007-08. He took over for Stotts late in the 2006-07 season and then coached the 2007-08 season. In 100 games, he was 31-69 as head coach.

A former Bucks player in the 1980s, Larry Krystowiak didn't have the success as a head coach as he did as a player. The team's .317 winning percentage (26-56 record) in his only full season as head coach in 2007-08 is the fourth-worst in team history.

Scott Skiles had a 162-182 record during his four-plus seasons as Bucks coach from 2008-13. He resigned after 32 games in the 2012-13 sesaon.

Scott Skiles coached the Bucks to one playoff appearance during the 2009-10 season. The team lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, 4-3, in what became known as the Fear the Dear season.

Jim Boylan coached the final 50 games of the 2012-13 season. He finished with a 22-28 record.

Larry Drew was the Bucks head coach for only one season in 2013-14. The Bucks finished with the NBA's worst record at 15-67.

Larry Drew was Giannis Antetokounmpo's first NBA head coach. The two greet each other with Asstant Coach Josh Oppenheimer looking on at the Cousin's Center in 2013.

Jason Kidd had a strong bond with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo during his time as the Milwaukee Bucks coach. Kidd had a 139-152 record leading the team from 2014-18.

Joe Prunty has filled in twice as an interim head coach, first after Jason Kidd was fired in 2018 and then in 2024 after Adrian Griffin was dismissed. He's 23-17 as interim coach in those two seasons.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer coached the team from 2018-23. He finished with a 271-120 record for a .693 winning percentage, the best of any Bucks head coach with at least one full season.

Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer celebrates with the crowd during the Bucks celebration parade on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. He led the team to the Bucks' first championship in 50 years.

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game early in the 2023-24 season. Griffin lasted just 43 games as the Bucks head coach. He was fired with the team 30-13.

Adrian Griffin was all smiles on Bucks media day with owner Wes Edens, general manager Jon Horst and point guard Damian Lillard in October 2023. But just a few months later he was fired after only 43 games, having the shortest tenure of any Bucks full-time head coach.

Doc Rivers coached the Bucks for two-plus seasons from January 2024 to the end of the 2025-226 campaign. The Bucks were 97-103 during his tenure.

Doc Rivers, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026, did not win a playoff series while with the Bucks.

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See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.

1 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Bucks coach Larry Costello sits with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on June 20, 1969. The Bucks selected Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcidor, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft.

2 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Milwaukee Bucks coach Larry Costello is seen at a meeting in 1974. He led the Bucks to the NBA Finals that season before the team fell to the Boston Celtics.

3 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Don Nelson accepted his 'Nellie Day' proclamation. He was a two-time coach of the year for the Bucks in 1983 and 1985.

4 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Don Nelson's .611 winning percentage (540-344) during his 10 years as the Bucks head coach is second-best among coaches in franchise history with at least one full season.

5 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Del Harris shakes hands with Bucks owner Herb Kohl at his introductory news conference in 1987. Harris was the team's head coach for four-plus seasons.

6 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Bucks head coach Del Harris is seen here watching a workout with Larry Krystkowiak in 1991. Krystkowiak would also later become the Bucks head coach 16 years later. Harris was 191-154 across his tenure as the Bucks head coach before stepping down early in the 1991-92 season.

7 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Frank Hamblen was fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after the 1991-92 season. The Bucks were 23-42 under his leadership in 65 games after he took over following Harris' resignation.

8 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Mike Dunleavy, who finished his NBA playing career with the Milwaukee Bucks, became the team's fifth coach in franchise history in 1992. He's introduced by owner Herb Kohl.

9 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Mike Dunleavy finished with a 107-221 record as the Bucks head coach. The Bucks didn't have a winning record in any season under Dunleavy and had three of 10 worst seasons by winning percentage in team history under Dunleavy.

10 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Chris Ford coached the Bucks from 1996-98 and finished with a 69-95 record.

11 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

George Karl coached the Milwaukee Bucks from 1998-2003 and had a 205-173 (.542 winning percentage). His 32 playoff games coached are fourth-most of any Bucks coach behind Larry Costello, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer.

12 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Darvin Ham gives George Karl a hug as he high fives Tim Thomas and Ervin Johnson after the Bucks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on 2001.

13 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Terry Porter's hire as Bucks head coach in 2003 was a homecoming. The Milwaukee native Porter attended South Division High School and played college basketball at UW-Stevens Point.

14 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Terry Porter gives directions to Michael Redd and Mo Williams during a game in 2004. Porter coached the Bucks for three seasons (2003-05) and finished with a 71-93 record and one playoff series loss.

15 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

An assistant coach for the Bucks during the George Karl years from 1998-2002, Terry Stotts returned to be the head coach in 2005. In 146 games and just short of two full seasons, Stotts went 63-83.

16 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Terry Stotts was fired late in his second season as the Bucks head coach with the team 23-41. It was a steep drop-off after his first season when the Bucks finished 42-40 and were in the playoffs.

17 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Larry Krystkowiak coached the Bucks for 1.5 seasons from 2007-08. He took over for Stotts late in the 2006-07 season and then coached the 2007-08 season. In 100 games, he was 31-69 as head coach.

18 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

A former Bucks player in the 1980s, Larry Krystowiak didn't have the success as a head coach as he did as a player. The team's .317 winning percentage (26-56 record) in his only full season as head coach in 2007-08 is the fourth-worst in team history.

19 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Scott Skiles had a 162-182 record during his four-plus seasons as Bucks coach from 2008-13. He resigned after 32 games in the 2012-13 sesaon.

20 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Scott Skiles coached the Bucks to one playoff appearance during the 2009-10 season. The team lost in the first round to the Atlanta Hawks, 4-3, in what became known as the Fear the Dear season.

21 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Jim Boylan coached the final 50 games of the 2012-13 season. He finished with a 22-28 record.

22 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Larry Drew was the Bucks head coach for only one season in 2013-14. The Bucks finished with the NBA's worst record at 15-67.

23 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Larry Drew was Giannis Antetokounmpo's first NBA head coach. The two greet each other with Asstant Coach Josh Oppenheimer looking on at the Cousin's Center in 2013.

24 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Jason Kidd had a strong bond with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo during his time as the Milwaukee Bucks coach. Kidd had a 139-152 record leading the team from 2014-18.

25 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Joe Prunty has filled in twice as an interim head coach, first after Jason Kidd was fired in 2018 and then in 2024 after Adrian Griffin was dismissed. He's 23-17 as interim coach in those two seasons.

26 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer coached the team from 2018-23. He finished with a 271-120 record for a .693 winning percentage, the best of any Bucks head coach with at least one full season.

27 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer celebrates with the crowd during the Bucks celebration parade on Thursday, July 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. He led the team to the Bucks' first championship in 50 years.

28 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin talks with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game early in the 2023-24 season. Griffin lasted just 43 games as the Bucks head coach. He was fired with the team 30-13.

29 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Adrian Griffin was all smiles on Bucks media day with owner Wes Edens, general manager Jon Horst and point guard Damian Lillard in October 2023. But just a few months later he was fired after only 43 games, having the shortest tenure of any Bucks full-time head coach.

30 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Doc Rivers coached the Bucks for two-plus seasons from January 2024 to the end of the 2025-226 campaign. The Bucks were 97-103 during his tenure.

31 / 31

See all the Milwaukee Bucks' coaches in team history; Who's the best?

Doc Rivers, who will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026, did not win a playoff series while with the Bucks.

The reality is that his time here could very well be coming to a close. The only scenario I would hope for is that whatever happens, the Bucks can rebound back into being a playoff contender at the minimum as opposed to being a lottery team (or ‘tanking’) any given year.

Greg Johnson, Milwaukee

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Let's hope Bucks won't tank if Giannis ends up leaving team | Letter