Count Giannis Antetokounmpo as a supporter of Jason Kidd, who was fired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
The Bucks superstar called Kidd and offered to save his job minutes before the firing took place, the former coach told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
"He (Antetokounmpo) called me and said, 'Coach, this isn't right what they're about to do, but (they) are gonna let you go,'" Kidd said.
Kidd says Antetokounmpo replied, "'What can I do? I'll call the owners, I'll call my agent."
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 23, 2018
Kidd said he told him, "There's nothing you can do. All you can do is tell the truth. That's it."
On the surface, Kidd - only five years removed from his playing days - appeared to have a good relationship with his players, but the Bucks are 4-7 in January and his ineffective defensive schemes appear to have doomed him.
It was also reported earlier by ESPN's Chris Haynes, citing sources, that Kidd hadn't been officially notified when the news of his firing leaked via social media, and that Antetokounmpo was "devastated" by the decision.
Kidd told Shelburne he was officially informed of his dismissal about 15 minutes after talking to Antetokounmpo, when he met general manager Jon Horst and team president Peter Feigin at a pizza restaurant.
Kidd added to Shelburne that he was "thankful to be able to coach" Antetokounmpo.
"It's a business," Kidd said. "That's what people have to understand. People get fired, they get traded. It's a job."
