The longtime assistant coach is joining the Magic.
In the latest move that continues the changing of the guard in Milwaukee, longtime assistant coach Joe Prunty is set to join Jamahl Mosley’s coaching staff in Orlando (per Marc Stein), bringing an end to his second stint with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Prunty first joined the Bucks as part of the Kidd era for the 2014 season and, when Kidd was fired in 2018, became interim head coach, guiding the Bucks to the seventh seed and a hard-fought seven-game first-round loss to the Boston Celtics. After Mike Budenholzer took over the following season, Prunty had stints with the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks—including as interim head coach in 2023—then returned to Milwaukee as part of Adrian Griffin’s staff for the 2023–24 season, when he also served as interim coach between Griffin and Doc Rivers. Well-respected by both the franchise and fanbase, Prunty’s presence on the sidelines will be missed.
Moving forward, Prunty’s departure opens up a coaching vacancy within Rivers’ staff. According to Jim Owczarski, one name to keep an eye on is Rajon Rondo:
I know a team can have any number of assistant coaches, but if Joe Prunty is indeed headed to Orlando it does potentially open up a full time position for Rajon Rondo.
Doc Rivers has made it clear he would like to hire his former point guard if Rondo was interested.
— Jim Owczarski (@jimowczarski.bsky.social) 2025-07-05T22:50:24.822Z
Rondo served as a guest coach for the Bucks during last year’s training camp and then throughout the 2024–25 season and has long been regarded as one of the best basketball minds. Rivers himself has even called him the smartest player he’s ever coached.
Suddenly, with a relatively young team and lingering questions at point guard, a Rondo hire would indeed be a very smart, forward-thinking move for Milwaukee. He would be an ideal mentor for recently re-signed Kevin Porter Jr., who figures to be the Bucks’ starting point guard moving forward (even if fans would prefer someone else). Should Milwaukee re-sign Ryan Rollins—another young guard with plenty of length and defensive upside—Rondo’s influence could be even more valuable.
For the Bucks to make noise this year and beyond, unexpected backcourt growth is a must, and the right voice on the end of the bench may just make all the difference. In the interim, all the best, Coach Prunty.