NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: HAWKS VS. BUCKS

July 3, 2021

Mike Budenholzer

Milwaukee Bucks

Game 6: Postgame

Milwaukee Bucks 118, Atlanta Hawks 107

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I will just lead with so much respect and congratulations to the Atlanta Hawk, Nate McMillan, the coaching job he did this year, their players. Just a tough, tough series, and I'm so impressed by them and so much respect for them. So feel fortunate to be moving on because they are a really, really good team and a really, really well-coached team by Nate.

Q. Obviously you go up against the team who beat you last year in Miami in the first round. Giannis goes down this series. What is it like seeing the obstacles in the postseason and still get to go to this spot?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, what a roller coaster of emotions, especially this series. But the series before and opening with Miami, and how good they are. So just impressed with the resilience of the group, the character of the group. They just have a focus and an edge that's put us in a good place, put us in an opportunity to keep playing. And so you've got to deal with all those emotions, everything that goes into each round and this group has been able to do that. It's impressive but we've got more to do.

Q. Next to you the person that's questioned most is probably Khris. It's always, can he be good enough, can he be good enough. What did this series mean to you for him to see him succeed in the way that he did in the series?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, he's such a great player, such a great human being. To be around him every day, how he prepares, the voice, the way he communicates, the IQ. It's special for him to play the way he has and now for him to be going to the NBA Finals. It means a lot for I think the whole organization but to have a player like Khris that is one of our leaders, one of our core guys to step up and take this challenge and rise to it, yeah, just a lot of credit to him, a lot of respect. I'm fortunate to get to coach him.

Q. What do you think coming off the last two postseasons did to harden this team and make them able to make this last step into the finals?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Every team has a different journey and every team has to go through different things. Certainly any time you lose you have to be honest with yourself and you have to look and you have to reflect and try and get better. I think just like every team in the league, when this group hasn't been able to advance, hasn't been able to continue, it’s hurt. It's been hard. The off-season, the guys have put the work in, the players have put the work in. And I'm impressed with what they have done, really every year, but coming into this year. But there's still more to be done.

Q. What is the balance between the Suns have been chilling for a couple of days now, and you turn around in two or three days. This is one you could or should enjoy, I know you're about keeping and pushing but what is the balance there?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I think, really, players for sure, and I think the whole organization, the front office, the coaches, the owners, take a second and enjoy this. This doesn't happen very often. It's special. And then we've had kind of long, extended pauses in between each round, and kind of excited to try it without one. You know, maybe we can be the team that's in a rhythm and all that, and after Game 1, I'm sure we'll talk about which was better, rest or rhythm and all that. It's a quick turn but we'll be ready.

Q. Do you think there was a turning point, like a moment, a single moment when this team came together?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I don't know, we just won Game 6. I'm not sure. You know, I mean, advancing in the playoffs is hard. I like the mindset coming in. I thought we played well down the stretch the last ten games or so. You know, I just like the focus going into the first round. But you know, there's wins during the season that kind of give you the confidence, give you the belief.

But I don't know, maybe I'll look back on it and think of one but right now -- I just liked the focus going into round one of this group.

Q. To the game a little bit, the first half I think Khris and Jrue had nine turnovers, shots weren't really going in, and then obviously we see how Khris opens. We've seen that before but what was the thought at the half, that there was a chance to blow it open, and didn't, and he goes, what, I think 13 straight, 16 straight, scores 23 in the third quarter.

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I mean, kind of normal for -- I think we were happy with the defense. I think we had a 19-point second quarter defensively. We felt like if we could take care of the ball, we could get good looks. But we just wanted to keep getting stops. I had a lot of faith in really, the whole group, but Khris and Jrue just rose to the occasion.

Khris caught a streak there in the third quarter, and particularly coming out to start it. So I think that was the turning point in the game. But we started well. The first quarter was big. We were only up four but then to kind of weather a lot of turnovers in the second quarter and still be up four was I think just an indicator of good defense.

Q. Jeff hits those three, Pat, Bryn, that group that have ten points. When starters are not maybe clicking, to have the bench come together and hold things, how important is that?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I thought Jeff Teague was really good tonight. He was huge. For him to do this after all the years he's played in Atlanta, to have a big Game 6 and help us win and go to the NBA Finals, I'm happy for him.

Pat Connaughton did a little bit of everything. He hit some big corner threes off of penetration and on the boards and Bryn a couple threes in that second quarter, at least one. You need every little second you can get from everybody, and those three guys off the bench tonight were big.

Q. You've been to the Finals as an assistant coach before. This is your team. How different does it feel for you in this moment and then how will you enjoy this in whatever short time you give yourself?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, just like the players, it's special. As a head coach, I feel fortunate to have been through this experience and kind of have seen it from a different seat. But now to do it as a head coach is special. But it's the players that do it. I love our group. I love coaching them. I'm happy for them. When I take a second tonight, when we take a second tonight, it's really just joy and happiness for your players; that they put the work in, the time to get to this place, and just be happy for them.

Q. You mentioned a roller coaster of emotions. You've been building this thing around Giannis for years and years, and he's standing around cheering his teammates on; is it validation for the organization? Is it bittersweet? What are the emotions you're feeling?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, I'll just say first, to see him, I think he probably almost got a delay of game. He's coming off the bench, he's halfway on the court, talking to Bobby, talking to Brook, talking to different players; to see that kind of leadership, that kind of connection, that kind of commitment from a player you know would be dying to be out there and playing. I just loved his energy on the bench. I loved his just togetherness that he brings to our group.

And there's a bittersweetness to him not being able to play these last two games, but I think he understands that there's a way we want to play basketball and there's a kind of team and organization that we want to be able to play and just play ball, and he's a big part of that.

But if he were to miss a game or if he's on the bench for whatever reason, we need to be able to play and we need to have guys that have confidence and we need to be able to get stops and do all the things that go into winning. While he's incredibly important to us, I think he appreciates what his teammates can do. And we certainly do as an organization appreciate what he did, and then what everybody else was able to do tonight and the other night without him.

Q. Now going into the biggest stage there is, what is the conversations the next couple of days and how are you going to approach it with Giannis?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: I mean, he and the sports performance team, they have been together a long time. It's special to watch their relationship. It's special to watch the communication, the trust that he has. You have to listen to the player and then you have to listen to the sports performance group, and at some point Jon Horst and myself are part of the conversations, but it's just a day-to-day thing. We'll update it when appropriate. The conversations between he and myself and he and the sports performance group, it's kind of private and we'll see where he is each day.

Q. Just for you, I noticed Giannis makes his way through people, he gives Khris a big hug and you're next; what was that moment like to know that you three together have gotten to this moment?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Yeah, Khris and Giannis are the key to this team, the key to this organization. To have the opportunity to coach them and come here three years ago and try and build something special, those two guys are special, and it starts with them. Just feel incredibly fortunate to coach those two guys and the whole group.

Q. Khris was moments ago on TNT and he said, "Coaches are always telling me to be aggressive and pass it to the rim." It was so interesting. What are you trying to get out of him when you tell him to pass it to the rim?

MIKE BUDENHOLZER: Baskets. You know, he's a bucket-getter. He's just got such a great overall package, and I think he's just an underrated playmaker. He's an underrated passer. But it's all built off him just being a great, great shooter. So any time he can shoot, I think he's got the ultimate green light. He can pass it, he can shoot it, he can do a little bit of everything. I love the way he competes and he's there. You know, he's been special. We'll need more of that going forward.