Jason Kidd abruptly fired
Jason Kidd has been fired as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The abrupt firing, first reported Monday afternoon by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, was due primarily to “general non-alignment,” Wojnarowski wrote.
Other factors in the firing included “frayed relationships” within the organization, and the fact that the Bucks have underperformed all season long.
The Bucks have relieved Jason Kidd of Head Coaching Duties https://t.co/36b0UR0O6y
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 22, 2018
Despite featuring one of the most dynamic stars in the entire NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are struggling to keep a hold on the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Bucks are only a game ahead of the ninth-place Detroit Pistons.
Antetokounmpo is having a career year, averaging 28.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game, while shooting 54.6 percent from the field. The points, rebounds, and field goal percentage are all career-highs for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo is reportedly “devastated” about the firing, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
Several Bucks are having outstanding years on offense. Newcomer Eric Bledsoe, Kris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon are all averaging double-digit scoring for the Bucks. And the Bucks offense is expected to get even better with next month’s anticipated return of talented forward Jabari Parker, who has missed all year after tearing his ACL last season.
The primary problem for the Bucks has been on the defensive side of the ball.
Despite accumulating a roster of players with enormous wingspans, which in theory would shrink the geometry of the court for their opponents, the Bucks are in the bottom half of the league in terms of points allowed, and are in the bottom five in opponent’s field goal percentage.
It’s not just that they’re giving up a lot of points, the Bucks are giving up a lot of easy points.
The sudden nature of Kidd’s departure is still a little surprising.
From all indications, Kidd was beloved by his players, which is no surprise since he himself was a player not too long ago.
Details surrounding Kidd’s departure are eerily reminiscent of the circumstances surrounding his departure as Brooklyn Nets head coach.
After losing a power struggle in Brooklyn with the general manager, Kidd alienated and soured quite a few relationships in the front office and with his Nets superiors.
While there have been no reports of a power struggle this time around, the other factors seem to indicate a pattern in Kidd’s behavior.
Kidd has been the coach of the Bucks since 2014, after just one year as the Nets head coach in 2013.
Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty will coach the team Monday against Phoenix and will reportedly be named the team’s interim head coach.
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