Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer was dealing with the loss of his brother during Milwaukee’s five-game loss the Miami Heat in the NBA Playoffs.
Budenholzer, the youngest of seven children, lost one of his three brothers before Game 4 from the series The brother died from injuries in a car accident, according to The Athletic.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during a game against the Miami Heat during Game 3 of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2023 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. (Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images)
While it’s unclear which of his brothers died, Budenholzer confirmed the tragic news to The Athletic via email. milwaukee spokesperson.
JAYSON TATUM OF THE CELTICS APOLOGIZES TO JANET JACKSON FOR FORCING THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE CONCERT
Budenholzer did not speak about his brother’s death during the series.
los angeles lakers Head coach Darvin Ham, who served as Budenholzer’s assistant coach in Milwaukee for four seasons, told reporters Friday that Budenholzer had lost his brother.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks is interviewed after the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2023 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
«Coach Bud is going through a lot on a personal level,» Ham said. «He just lost a brother. So my apologies, Bud, if he wasn’t supposed to tell anyone. Me and him have been texting. I love those guys.»
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Milwaukee’s season came to a shock finish this week, and they became the sixth top seed to lose to an eighth seed.
The Bucks were expected to quickly dispatch the Heat after Miami needed a win against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA play-in tournament to reach the playoffs.
Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks talks with Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during Game 4 of the first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Bucks won 58 regular season games and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
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But Miami star Jimmy Butler was red hot in the last two games of the series, scoring a franchise playoff-record 56 points in Game 4 and following up with a 42-point performance in Game 5.
Budenholzer led the Bucks to the nba championship in 2021, Milwaukee’s first title since 1971.