Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff will have a different look next season as they will no longer have Joe Prunty on the bench assisting head coach Doc Rivers and the players.
Milwaukee Bucks, Joe Prunty
Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks interim head coach Joe Prunty calls a play in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Prunty, who had two stints with the Bucks since becoming an assistant to Gregg Popovich in 1999, is moving on to the Orlando Magic as deputy to Jamahl Mosley. He became an interim coach thrice.
The last one, which was due to the firing of Adrian Griffin, earned him praises from superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“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 in an interview with 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.”
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Jan 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks interim head coach Joe Prunty looks on with forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
He was also responsible for leading the Bucks to a memorable seven-game series with the Boston Celtics in 2018 as the interim coach.
Rajon Rondo might join Milwaukee Bucks
Prunty may be a big loss but it seems Doc Rivers already has a replacement in mind according to Owczarski.
I know a team can have any number of assistant coaches, but if Joe Prunty is indeed headed to Orlando it does potentially open up a full time position for Rajon Rondo.
Doc Rivers has made it clear he would like to hire his former point guard if Rondo was interested.
— Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social) July 6, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Rajon Rondo
Apr 12, 2022; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Rajon Rondo (1) argues with referee Curtis Blair (74) during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Rivers has been very outspoke about his desire to have Rondo on the sideline. He already had some sort of internship at the start of last season. He thinks his former player with Celtics, wherein together they won the 2008 title, is a smart player and he can translate that as a coach.
“I knew he would coach if he wanted to do that,” Rivers said in November.
“He definitely is the smartest player I’ve ever coached. It’s been a two year thing of me trying to get him to do it. You know, he kind of dabbled in it, he kind of looks at it.”
The Bucks still don’t have a starting point guard after releasing Damian Lillard. If ever, Rondo will be a great pick up as mentor to that PG, even to the likes of Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins.
The team is currently looking at Chris Paul who had issues with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the past. Bringing back their former player and former rookie of the year Malcolm Brogdon is also a reported option.
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