The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a multiyear contract extension with general manager Jon Horst, ESPN reported Thursday.
The move comes with the Bucks in the midst of yet another playoff run. Since Horst’s tenure with the team began ahead of the 2017-18 NBA season, the Bucks have reached the postseason every year, winning the NBA championship in 2021. In his eight seasons with the team, Horst has compiled a 412-225 record.
The team’s championship run in the 2020-21 NBA season remains one of Horst’s biggest moments with the franchise. But that would not have been possible without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Prior to the 2020-21 season, Antetokounmpo’s contract situation dominated the headlines. He had one year left on his deal and would hit the free-agent market at the end of the season.
There were questions over whether Antetokounmpo would commit to staying in Milwaukee long term. While the team performed well in its previous two seasons, it fell short in the playoffs both times. Some believed Antetokounmpo would leave to play in a bigger market, or try to force his way to a team with massive star power.
But Antetokounmpo defied the odds and stayed in Milwaukee, signing a five-year, $228.2 million supermax extension with the franchise. He furthered his loyalty to the team in 2023, inking a three-year, $186 million extension to stick with the Bucks.
Both contracts have worked out extremely well for both sides. The Bucks not only won the 2020-21 NBA championship, but have been a postseason team ever since. Antetokounmpo has given Milwaukee MVP-caliber performances in every season since his supermax deal, finishing in the top four of the voting every year.
While winning the NBA championship would be an easy legacy-defining moment for most general managers, persuading Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee ahead of that pivotal 2020-21 NBA season might be Horst’s biggest moment with the franchise.
This offseason threatens to undo some of that good will. The Bucks have been successful under Horst, but the team hasn’t experienced many deep playoff runs despite employing one of the best players in the league.
If the Bucks once again fail to advance, there is speculation Antetokounmpo could ask out. While Antetokounmpo has remained loyal to Milwaukee, he’s also stated he wants to contend for championships. The Bucks haven’t been able to do that in recent years, are getting older and do not have control of their first-round picks until 2031. Plus, the big swing for Damian Lillard hasn’t paid off. Some believe all those factors could lead to Antetokounmpo asking for a trade.
Milwaukee would undoubtedly have a bevy of teams vying for Antetokounmpo’s services if it came to that. Trading the superstar would give the Bucks plenty of future assets, though that might not help as much as expected considering the team’s current draft-pick situation.
Whatever happens in the next few months, the Bucks feel comfortable with Horst leading the charge. The future looks cloudy in Milwaukee at the moment, but if there’s anyone who can persuade Antetokounmpo to run it back with the Bucks, it’s the guy whose already managed it once.
The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a multiyear contract extension with general manager Jon Horst, ESPN reported Thursday.
The move comes with the Bucks in the midst of yet another playoff run. Since Horst’s tenure with the team began ahead of the 2017-18 NBA season, the Bucks have reached the postseason every year, winning the NBA championship in 2021. In his eight seasons with the team, Horst has compiled a 412-225 record in Milwaukee.
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The team’s championship run in the 2020-21 NBA season remains one of Horst’s biggest moments with the franchise. But that would not have been possible without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Prior to the 2020-21 season, Antetokounmpo’s contract situation dominated the headlines. He had one year left on his deal, and would hit the free-agent market at the end of the season.
There were questions over whether Antetokounmpo would commit to staying in Milwaukee long-term. While the team performed well in its previous two seasons, it fell short in the playoffs both times. Some believed Antetokounmpo would leave to play in a bigger market, or try and force his way to a team with massive star power.
But Antetokounmpo defied the odds and stayed in Milwaukee, signing a five-year, $228.2 million supermax extension with the franchise. He furthered his loyalty to the team in 2023, inking a three-year, $186 million extension to stick with the Bucks.
Both contracts have worked out extremely well for both sides. The Bucks not only won the 2020-21 NBA championship, but have been a constant threat to take home the Larry O’Brien trophy each season since. Antetokounmpo has given Milwaukee MVP-caliber performances in every season since his supermax deal, finishing in the top-4 of the voting every year.
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While winning the NBA championship would be an easy legacy-defining moment for most general mangers, convincing Antetokounmpo to stay in Milwaukee ahead of that pivotal 2020-21 NBA season might be Horst’s biggest moment with the franchise.
This story will be updated.
