Milwaukee Bucks: Top 18 moments for the team from 2018

Coach fired, star reaches lift-off

1. Jason Kidd fired: For years the fans of the Milwaukee Bucks called for the removal of head coach Jason Kidd. After a strong start to his time in Milwaukee, Kidd’s inability to adapt his schemes proved fatal as the league found the Bucks’ weaknesses and exploited them.

A series of postgame blunders — on the court and in front of media — finally proved to be the straw that broke the…deer’s…back.

On Jan. 22, the Bucks finally pulled the trigger, firing Kidd and elevating assistant coach Joe Prunty to the role of interim coach. For a recap, here are five reasons he was fired. Kidd is currently still out of the coaching ranks, while the Bucks eventually replaced him with Mike Budenholzer (more on that later).

2. Giannis jumps completely over Tim Hardaway Jr: In early February, the Bucks traveled to Madison Square Garden and defeated the New York Knicks 103-89. During the game, one of the plays of the year took place on a fast break midway through the third quarter.

It was so nonchalant! Antetokounmpo leapt up for the pass like it was completely routine, with no thought or care for the emasculated Knickerbocker below him. This play was a portent for the dominant year that was unfolding for the Greek Freak.

3. Brandon Jennings returns: During one of the low periods of the Bucks’ past two decades, the front office drafted an exciting point guard in the lottery who immediately leapt in and dropped 50 points in his rookie season. After years bouncing around the Eastern Conference, Jennings made his return to the team in March, dropping 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in his debut.

While he would not stick with the rotation or the team once the backcourt was healthy, his time back in a Bucks uniform was a fun moment for fans.