The Milwaukee Bucks immediately named Joe Prunty as the team’s interim head coach after they announced the decision to fire Adrian Griffin. This speaks volumes of how much trust and confidence the front office has in the long-time assistant.
Prunty’s stint as interim head coach has been short-lived, though, with the Bucks recently announcing Doc Rivers as the new man at the top. During his brief time in charge, however, Prunty proved that he is more than capable of the job.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could not agree more. Speaking to reporters following Saturday’s 141-117 blowout win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the two-time NBA MVP shared his honest assessment of Prunty’s performance in the past three contests:
“I think we did a good job, coach Joe did a great job to be able to take the responsibility to coach us for these three games,” Antetokounmpo said, via Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “He had everybody in a good place. Our film session was simple. Our practice was simple. Our walkthrough was simple. He gave us direction of what we were trying to do.”
Prunty went 2-1 during his brief tenure, with his one loss coming at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The Bucks, however, secured a 126-116 victory against the same opponent on January 24, which was Prunty’s first game in charge.
“After a loss in a back-to-back, same thing, came in, gave us direction of what we’re trying to do. We moved the ball, ATOs was great,” Antetokounmpo said of Prunty’s message after the Cleveland loss. “I’ve been with coach Joe for five years. His ability to be able to, as I said, take this responsibility and be able to do it with grace, is unbelievable.
“I don’t know it’s crazy man how he’s never been a head coach in this league. It’s insane. But, I loved it. I think three games we’re 2-1. We did a good job.”
Perhaps other NBA teams will also see what Giannis sees in Prunty after this brief stint. Who knows, maybe the long-time Bucks assistant finally gets a shot at being an NBA head coach in the near future.
For now, though, he will be happy to serve under the new regime as Doc Rivers enters the fold.
More must-reads: