Bucks’ epic flameout leads to questions about Mike Budenholzer’s

The Milwaukee Bucks’ early exit from the playoffs, just the sixth No. 1 seed to fall in the first round in NBA history, has left plenty of questions surrounding the future of head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Only two seasons ago, Bucks staffers and people around the organization felt rising pressure on Budenholzer’s job security after previous postseason shortcomings, however a 2021 championship run ended the uncertainty on Milwaukee’s bench. Now, a stunning 4-1 series defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat, after the Bucks fumbled late leads in Games 4 and Game 5, has suddenly thrust Budenholzer’s status back under consideration, league sources told Yahoo Sports, as Milwaukee faces several key roster decisions, and assistant coach Charles Lee garners interest from various rival head coaching posts. There will be plenty of internal reflection and conversation following such an abrupt end to what was supposed to be a pursuit of another banner.

Entering this series, even entering Game 5 on Wednesday night, much of the noise surrounding Budenholzer’s standing in Milwaukee seemed to be external and speculative from other corners of the NBA. Bucks general manager Jon Horst is known to hold a close relationship with Budenholzer, having hired him to the position in 2018 and then collaborating for the organization’s first title in 50 seasons. There was no tangible discussion, sources said, on Budenholzer’s footing before the series with Miami unlike in past playoffs. And according to multiple league figures with knowledge of the situation, former Milwaukee owner Marc Lasry, who sold his 25% stake in the franchise to Jimmy Haslam in April, was a leading voice behind heating Budenholzer’s seat during that 2021 postseason run. Lasry later revealed to The Athletic he approached Budenholzer in the locker room following the Bucks’ 125-86 loss to Brooklyn in Game 2 of those Eastern Conference semifinals.

For Milwaukee to ultimately part ways with Budenholzer, who…