Milwaukee Bucks: What it means for each Buck to reach the NBA Finals

What the NBA Finals mean for the Milwaukee Bucks: Mike Budenholzer

It was no secret that pressure was mounting on Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer’s job security entering this postseason after failing to meet expectations the last two seasons, but he’s just about proved enough to keep his job moving forward after getting over the hump this time around. Despite losing starting two-guard Donte DiVincenzo for the rest of the playoffs during the first-round against Miami and Antetokounmpo for the last two games of the Atlanta series, Bud properly adjusted for the most part and was able to prevail.

Budenholzer has reached the conference finals three times in his career as a head coach, and now he’s finally headed to the NBA Finals with loads of emotion; “I love our group. I love coaching them. I’m happy for them. When I take a second tonight, it’s really just joy and happiness for your players. They put the work in and the time to get to this place.”

What the NBA Finals mean for the Milwaukee Bucks: Jon Horst

Lastly, general manager Jon Horst deserves all the praise for forming this Finals-bound team in Milwaukee. The former NBA Executive of the Year has done an excellent job whether it’s been convincing the star trio of Antetokounmpo, Middleton, and Holiday to commit long-term or building around them with a strong supporting cast via trades and signings.

Trading for Jrue Holiday and P.J. Tucker was the icing on the cake, plus signing guys like Portis, Bryn Forbes, Pat Connaughton, and even Jeff Teague, who produced 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc on Saturday night, have proved to be crucial moves in lifting these Bucks toward the ultimate goal. Horst has arguably built the most talented roster in franchise history as the Milwaukee Bucks now prepare to fight for an NBA championship on basketball’s most prolific stage.