Bud 'forever appreciative' for 5 years with Bucks

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer made his return to Milwaukee for the first time since being fired by the Bucks in May 2023.

Budenholzer guided the club to its first NBA title in 50 years and looked back fondly on his time with the franchise.

"I've always said it was a great five years here in Milwaukee," he told reporters after the Suns' 133-123 defeat, per Steve Megargee of The Associated Press. "I'm forever appreciative to the organization, to the players, to the fans here. The people here were great to me.

"It's tough to lose tonight. I want to keep the focus on my guys, my team. But I've said it a million times: It was five great years here."

Budenholzer enjoyed a respectable tenure in Milwaukee, posting a 391-271 mark, including four 50-win campaigns. He ranks third on the team's all-time wins list behind Don Nelson and Larry Costello.

The 55-year-old won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and guided the Bucks to an East finals appearance that same season before their championship breakthrough in 2021.

Budenholzer was relieved of his head coaching duties just two years later after a shocking opening-round playoff exit to the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.

Milwaukee opted to display a "Welcome back, Coach Bud" message on the video board during a stoppage play instead of a video tribute.

"I thought they were going to play like a video for him," said Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. "They didn't, which was surprising to me. I felt like they should."