Bucks fire Jason Kidd

The Milwaukee Bucks have fired head coach Jason Kidd, the team announced Monday.

Bucks assistant Joe Prunty will take over on an interim basis and will coach tonight against the Phoenix Suns.

Kidd hadn't been informed of the decision, which meant he found out through the media, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN. Similarly, the news took Giannis Antetokounmpo by surprise as the franchise cornerstone was reportedly "devastated" by the news.

Bucks brass evidently felt Kidd was underachieving with the talent available to him. Milwaukee had their moments this season, most notably in an exhilarating win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at home, but they sit in eighth heading into Monday.

"Many factors went into this decision, but ultimately we decided that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our team to the next level and bringing us closer to our goal of winning championships," general manager Jon Horst wrote in a statement. "We believe that making this change now is important for the organization and gives our players the best chance to reach their full potential this season and beyond."

Kidd led the Bucks to a 139-152 record over four seasons after joining them following a successful stint in Brooklyn. Kidd was widely credited for the brilliant decision of encouraging Antetokounmpo to become a point guard.

However, Kidd's out-of-the-box defensive schemes and shaky rotations had become a constant source of frustration for Bucks fans.