In a stunning development that has shaken the Milwaukee Bucks organization and drawn widespread attention from across the NBA landscape, current head coach Doc Rivers has publicly reacted with shock and concern to a crushing internal report submitted by former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
The report, which was quietly turned over to both the NBA League Office and Milwaukee ownership earlier this week, outlines a series of allegations and systemic concerns within the Bucks franchise following Budenholzer’s dismissal in 2023 — a year after leading the team to its first NBA title in 50 years.
“I was blindsided by this,” Rivers said Tuesday in a media scrum. “I’ve always respected Coach Bud for what he did here. I didn’t expect something this serious or this public from him — especially now.”
🔍 What’s Allegedly in the Budenholzer Report?
While the full report has not yet been released to the public, insiders with knowledge of the document have confirmed it contains serious concerns regarding:
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Organizational dysfunction at the executive level, including alleged “fractured communication” between the front office and the coaching staff.
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Player-management conflicts, especially surrounding rotations, contract pressures, and injury management of key stars during the 2022–2023 season.
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Accusations of “culture erosion” post-championship, with Budenholzer claiming the team’s values, chemistry, and identity had “disintegrated rapidly.”
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Alleged lack of support and accountability from team ownership after the playoff collapse in 2023, which led to Budenholzer’s firing.
“It wasn’t about wins or losses,” Budenholzer reportedly wrote. “It was about how a winning culture was abandoned overnight.”
🗣️ Doc Rivers Pushes Back, Defends Current Culture
Doc Rivers, who took over as Bucks head coach in early 2024, pushed back strongly against the tone and implications of Budenholzer’s report, defending both the front office and the current locker room.
“Every coach sees things differently,” Rivers said. “But this team is unified. This staff is locked in. And our stars — Giannis, Dame — they’re bought in. Whatever happened before I got here, we’re not living in that past.”
Sources close to the Bucks organization say Rivers has already spoken with ownership and key players following the report’s submission to “clear the air” and ensure no internal rifts arise from Budenholzer’s claims.
💣 Budenholzer’s Motive in Question
While some view the report as a professional critique and call for organizational reflection, others inside league circles suggest Budenholzer’s motivations may be more personal — with speculation that he may be seeking a return to coaching or attempting to vindicate his exit from a team he led to championship glory.
One anonymous NBA executive told The Athletic:
“This feels like a warning shot — not just to Milwaukee, but to the league. Bud wants his voice back in the room.”
🏀 NBA to Review Document
The NBA League Office has confirmed receipt of the report and is reviewing its contents to determine whether any action is necessary. While no violations of league rules have been reported so far, the league may request internal clarification from Bucks ownership.
⚡ REACTIONS AROUND THE NBA:
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@WojESPN: “The Budenholzer report is real — and it’s serious. Doc Rivers and the Bucks are in damage control mode.”
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@KendrickPerkins: “Coach Bud airing it all out… Damn. Respect or petty? Depends how you see it.”
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@Giannis_An34: (No official comment yet — all eyes on social media for his reaction)
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