Ever look at your monthly budget and wonder where all your money went? You’re not alone. That’s exactly the vibe around the Milwaukee Bucks right now, except their budget is a little different from yours.
It’s like when you order one pizza for a party, but then realize you need breadsticks, soda, and a dessert too. Before you know it, you’re paying for a whole buffet. The Bucks are basically running a buffet of basketball minds.
So, How Many Coaches Are On The Payroll?
Right now, the Bucks are paying three head coaches at the same time. Yes, three. It’s a little like paying rent on your current apartment, the apartment you left last year, and the one you almost moved into back in 2022.
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They’ve got Doc Rivers as the current head coach. Then there’s Mike Budenholzer, who they fired back in 2023. And let’s not forget Adrian Griffin, who got the boot just weeks into this season.
That’s a lot of coaching salaries coming out of one team’s pocket. It’s like having to pay for three gym memberships when you only use the treadmill at one of them.
Why Does This Happen? A Little Life Lesson
Think about that streaming service you forgot to cancel. You know the one. You signed up for a free trial, watched one show, and now you’re paying $15 a month for something you never touch. That’s the Bucks with Budenholzer.
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Budenholzer won a championship for them in 2021. He’s still getting paid a cool $7 million a year. And he’s not even in the building. That’s the price of success—and a messy breakup.
Adrian Griffin? He signed a contract, coached 43 games, and got fired. But the Bucks still owe him that money. It’s like quitting a job on day one and getting paid for the whole year. Nice work if you can get it, right?
Let’s Talk Numbers—Without Boring You
Doc Rivers is the big cheese now. He’s making around $8 million per year. Budenholzer is still collecting roughly $7 million. Griffin is getting about $4 million.
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Add it all up, and you get $19 million just for head coaches. That’s enough to buy a small island. Or, you know, pay for a bunch of really good sandwiches for every fan in Wisconsin.
To put it in perspective, that’s more than some entire NBA coaching staffs cost. The Miami Heat are paying Spoelstra a lot, but they aren’t paying two other guys to sit at home. The Bucks are like that friend who always overpays for the group dinner.
Should You Care? (Spoiler: Yes, It’s Fun)
You might think, “I don’t play for the Bucks, why does this matter?” Well, it matters because it’s your entertainment. When a team burns cash on coaches, they have less money for players.
It’s like if your favorite restaurant spends all its money on fancy menus instead of better steak. You end up with a pretty menu and a tough piece of meat. The Bucks have less wiggle room to sign great players because the coach pile is so tall.
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Also, it’s just funny. Imagine telling your boss you need to hire your replacement, and then pay your old boss, and also pay the guy you fired before that. Your boss would laugh you out of the room.
A Tale of Two Contracts
Remember when you broke up with someone, but you still had to pay for the concert tickets you bought together? That’s the Budenholzer situation. He’s gone, but his paycheck isn’t.
The Griffin situation? That’s like buying a new car, driving it off the lot, and realizing you hate the color. So you buy a different car, but the dealership makes you keep paying for the first one. Ouch.
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Doc Rivers is the new car. He’s shiny, he’s experienced, but he’s expensive. And he’s driving while the other two cars sit in the garage, still costing money in insurance.
The Silver Lining (For the Humor Lovers)
Here’s the good news: these things have a time limit. Budenholzer’s contract runs out after next season. Griffin’s deal will expire too. Eventually, the Bucks will just be paying one head coach like a normal team.
Until then, they are the unofficial kings of paying people to not work. It takes the pressure off the rest of us. Next time you overspend on takeout, just remember: the Milwaukee Bucks are paying three people to watch them play basketball. Suddenly, your DoorDash habit doesn’t seem so bad.
So pour a drink, cheer for Giannis, and chuckle at the madness. Because in the NBA, just like in life, sometimes you pay for the pizza, the breadsticks, the soda, and the guy who already left the party.