Nick Wass/AP
- The Milwaukee Bucks fired Jason Kidd on Monday after four seasons.
- News of the firing got out before Kidd was informed by the team, according to an ESPN report.
- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was reportedly "devastated" by the firing.
The Milwaukee Bucks on Monday fired head coach Jason Kidd after four seasons.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the move came as the Bucks slid into 8th place in the Eastern Conference, while the relationship between Kidd and management "frayed."
Questions have been raised about how the firing was handled. ESPN's Chris Haynes reported shortly after Wojnarowski broke news of the firing that Kidd had not yet been told. He also reported that Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was "devastated" by the move.
The Bucks have been up-and-down this season despite a career year from Giannis Antetokounmpo and a trade for Eric Bledsoe that was supposed to take them up a notch. The Bucks currently rank 25th in defensive rating, as an aggressive scheme by Kidd has largely proved ineffective and begun to be questioned by many in the NBA world.
"We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make a coaching change," Bucks GM Jon Horst said in a statement. "We believe that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team towards the next level, bringing us closer to our goal of competing for championships."
The Bucks were 139-152 under Kidd over four years and made the postseason twice.
Bucks assistant coach Joe Prunty will be interim head coach, and the opening is expected to be one of the most attractive jobs in the NBA this offseason.