Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Terry Stotts is stepping down, just four months after returning to the team, a league source said. Here’s what you need to know:
- The Bucks hired Stotts as an assistant in June, marking his return to the franchise after serving as head coach for two seasons from 2005 to 2007 and as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2002.
- Before hiring this summer, Stotts was out of coaching for two years after leading the Portland Trail Blazers for nine seasons (2012-21).
- Stotts recently reunited with Damian Lillard, whom he coached in Portland when Milwaukee acquired Lillard in a trade last month.
What role did Stotts play with the Bucks?
After two seasons away from coaching, the 65-year-old Stotts joined the Bucks’ coaching staff to lead the offense at the start of Adrian Griffin’s tenure in Milwaukee. Stotts’ offensive expertise was a useful contrast to Griffin’s focus on defense as a coach, but the hire ultimately proved even more beneficial when the team traded for Lillard, the superstar point guard Stotts coached for nine seasons in Portland.
In recent weeks, Lillard had spoken about how the move to Milwaukee was easier for him because many of the sets they did with the Bucks were things he had already done in Portland with his former coach. Lillard also helped his new teammates better understand some of the concepts. — Eric Nehm, Bucks writer
What the Bucks said about him
In a recent press conference, Lillard said his teammates often asked him questions about the offense since he previously played for the Stotts.
Lillard told The Athletic how knowing the Stotts offense helped him in his transition in Milwaukee.
“It all seems familiar to me. That is positive. …. When I come into a new situation and the staff is also new and I’m as familiar with Terry as I am, I recognize a lot of what he wants to achieve with the sets he wants to run. I recognize the sets myself, so I know how to make plays and put guys in a position to do what they need to do and also where to find myself in it, so it’s been pretty smooth, actually.”
At the time of Stotts’ hiring, Griffin said Stotts was “someone I could rely on.”
“Getting a guy like Terry is a home run. He brings incredible experience. And yes, he’s a mastermind on offense, but he’s very accomplished. He brings with him a wealth of experience. He’s coached elite players like Lillard and (CJ) McCollum, so I don’t see him as just an offensive line coach. He will be someone I can rely on.”
Backstory
Stotts’ experience as an assistant coach includes stints with Seattle (1993-98), Atlanta (2002), Golden State (2004-05), Dallas (2008-12) and Milwaukee. He was also the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2002 to 2004.
During his time in Portland, Stotts led the Blazers to eight consecutive postseason berths, including the team’s first appearance in the Western Conference Finals in 19 years in 2019 and a 402-318 regular season record. In his head coaching career, he holds a 517-486 regular season record.
Required reading
(Photo: Troy Wayrynen / USA Today)