The Milwaukee Bucks on Friday afternoon announced that general manager Jon Horst signed a contract extension. Horst, who has been the team’s general manager over the past four seasons, built the reigning champion Bucks team that won the franchise’s first championship in 50 years this past June.
“I am blessed and excited to continue with the Bucks,” Horst said via a press release. “Thank you to Marc, Wes and Jamie for your continued confidence and trust in me and for giving us the resources to be successful. We have the best ownership in sports, and I’m humbled to work with you. I also want to express my deep appreciation to my great partners and friends, Peter Feigin and Coach Bud, as we continue building sustainable success in Milwaukee. My executive team, led by Milt Newton, is incredible, and I appreciate your support and dedication every day.
“To our players, I’m grateful for your trust, commitment, and belief, and for working incredibly hard to get better every day. You are the reason I get to live my dream, and my family and I are forever grateful. Milwaukee is our home. Go Bucks!”
Horst took a team that consistently lost in the first round of the playoffs, and turned it into a title-winning club. He was behind the decision to bring in Mike Budenholzer after four mediocre years with Jason Kidd as head coach, he orchestrated the trade to bring in Jrue Holiday to pair alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, and last season all of that wheeling and dealing finally paid off.
“Jon’s preparedness, decision-making and leadership have been instrumental in the Bucks’ success during his tenure, and he has earned this extension,” Bucks owners Marc Lasry, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan said. “We appreciate Jon’s hard work and creativity and are excited that he will continue to lead our basketball operations for years to come.”
Horst won the league’s Executive of the Year award in 2017, and when he took over for previous Bucks general manager John Hammond, he was the NBA‘s youngest general manager at the time. With Horst signed to a new extension, in addition to the contract extensions for Budenholzer and Antetokounmpo over the past year, the Bucks are sending a message to the rest of the league that they’re planning on being a championship-contending team for years to come.
