After about three and a half seasons as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team relieved Jason Kidd of his duties, and assistant coach Joe Prunty was promoted to interim head coach for the rest of the season.

Kidd recorded 139 wins and 152 losses as the Bucks’ coach. His career coaching  record is 183-190. The Bucks were underachieving this year with a record of only 23-22 and sitting at 8th place in the Eastern Conference. Even with three great players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton the Bucks couldn’t succeed.

Kidd’s firing caused much controversy around the NBA and many have one question: Why? Here are three reasons why Kidd’s firing was justified and needed for the Bucks’ future.

1.  Bucks’ defense was horrendous.

The Bucks ranked #25 in defensive rating in the NBA. Milwaukee has ranked in the bottom half for defense for the last three years despite the length and defensive skills in Antetokounmpo. Kidd’s blitz defense strategy failed to bring results and with no change in scheme led to awful defense.

2.  Bad relationship with Jabari Parker.

Kidd reportedly tried to trade star Jabari Parker prior to his first ACL tear. Kidd and Parker allegedly were not speaking before Kidd’s firing, according to Ryen Russillo from ESPN and The Washington Post’s Tim Bontemps. Being in a feud with one of the franchise’s key players when he is healthy is not a positive sign for job security.

3. Milwaukee front office didn’t have faith in Kidd.

GM for the Bucks, Jon Horst, said, “We believe this gives our team the best opportunity to have the most success this season, the success that we expect, and going forward long-term. You have short windows in the NBA to build toward contention and actually contend, and we didn’t want to waste time in putting our team in the best position to do that.” Kidd has underachieved for his tenure in Milwaukee and with Antetokounmpo’s contract ending in 2021, the success has to happen soon.

As head coach, Prunty has taken the reins and started off 4-0. The future for Milwaukee is bright if they can keep it up.