Milwaukee Bucks fire Jason Kidd in fourth season as head coach

The Milwaukee Bucks have fired head coach Jason Kidd, the team announced in a statement Monday afternoon. 

This was not a snap decision for the Bucks, who contemplated Kidd’s dismissal for at least the past two weeks.

Assistant coach Joe Prunty will serve as interim head coach until the Bucks find a replacement.

Because of Giannis Antetokounmpo and other younger, talented players, the Bucks job will be a sought-after gig, and expect former NBA coach Monty Williams to be a strong candidate.

In a statement sent via text to USA TODAY Sports, Kidd said, "I had a great time in Milwaukee to help bring the Bucks into a positive light. Great city, great fans. I wish them the best. I was lucky to have time with Giannis and the rest of the guys."

All things Bucks: Latest Milwaukee Bucks news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

GM Jon Horst shed light on the decision ahead of Monday night's game vs. Phoenix.

"You have short windows in the NBA to build towards contention and actually contend and we didn't want to waste time in putting our team in the best position to do that," he said. "... A general manager in the NHL had a statement once, 'If something's inevitable, why wait?' and so I think we'd come to the conclusion that this was the best thing for the future of the franchise." 

Horst said that management spoke with every player individually and then addressed the team as a whole on Monday afternoon. 

"This is not something that was premeditated or really in the balance for most of the season," he said. "We just felt like we got to a point in the season where this team could do more. It could perform at a different level."

The Bucks are one of the younger teams in the league with Antetokounmpo, 23; Malcolm Brogdon, 25; Jabari Parker, 22; Thon Maker, 20; Khris Middleton, 26; Tony Snell 26; Sterling Brown, 22; D.J. Wilson, 21; and Rashad Vaughn, 21.

But even with that youth, there was belief in the organization that the team was underachieving. With Antetokounmpo an All-Star and Middleton having an All-Star caliber season, the Bucks are still 25th in defensive rating, allowing 107.5 points per 100 possessions.

"We appreciate everything that Jason has done for the Bucks organization, but we have decided to make a coaching change," Horst said in the statement released earlier. "We believe that a fresh approach and a change in leadership are needed to continue elevating our talented team towards the next level, bringing us closer to our goal of competing for championships."

Prunty, who also served as the interim coach in 2015-16 while Kidd recovered from hip surgery, has been in the NBA for two decades working his way up from assistant video coordinator in San Antonio to advance scout with the Spurs to assistant coach. He has been an assistant with Dallas, Portland, Cleveland and Brooklyn.

Our picks:USA TODAY Sports' picks for NBA All-Star Game reserves

Soap opera:Cavs' defense at center of never-ending drama

Week 14 NBA power rankings: Rockets, Thunder rise; Bucks, Cavs fall

The Bucks have also been hurt by injuries all season. Parker has not played as he recovers from his second serious knee injury, and forward Mirza Teletovic is out indefinitely with a pulmonary embolism. Antetokounmpo will be sidelined until Friday as he battles a sore right knee.

"Jason led a historic turnaround during his first season and would guide our team to two playoff appearances," the statement continued. "He also played a meaningful role in helping to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee. We thank him for all of his contributions and wish him the best." 

Kidd helped engineer a 26-win turnaround in his first season, taking over a team that went 15-67 and guiding them to a 41-41 record. 

The Bucks, who entered the season with high expectations, have lost four of their last five games and seven of their last 11 and are now in eighth place in the Eastern Conference at 23-22.

Kidd, 44, had a 139-152 record during his 3 ½ seasons on the Bucks' sidelines. The Bucks went to the playoffs twice under Kidd, but were ousted in the first round both times. 

ESPN first reported the firing.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter.