Giannis Antetokounmpo Reportedly Called Jason Kidd Minutes Before His Firing to Try and Help Save His Job

Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a valiant effort to save Jason Kidd's job, but it was too late.

Jason Kidd and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
USA Today Sports

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Jeff Hanisch

Jason Kidd and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a necessary band-aid by firing head coach Jason Kidd on Monday. At 23-22, the Bucks needed to strive for something greater than the mediocrity that Kidd has brought as head coach since joining the team in 2014. With that being said, there are certain things that Kidd brought to the table that remained behind closed doors, which might explain why their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, reportedly fought hard to keep him onboard just minutes before his firing became official. 

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Antetokounmpo reached out to Kidd to try and help save his job. 

While appreciative of Giannis's desire to keep him around, Kidd seemed resigned to the fact that his tenure with the team had expired.

For three of his four years in the league, Antetokounmpo has called Kidd his head coach, which means the former star point guard is at least party responsible for The Greek Freak's emergence as one of the NBA's biggest stars. But with a top five player like Giannis entering his prime, and the early season addition of Eric Bledsoe, expectations got higher and the uneven Kidd simply couldn't meet them.  Assistant coach Joe Prunty will take over head coaching duties on an interim basis.

 

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