Looking back at the 2021 NBA Finals, I still get chills thinking about how the Milwaukee Bucks clawed their way back from a 0-2 deficit to win it all. As someone who’s followed the league for over a decade, I’ve rarely seen a series with so many dramatic momentum swings—and frankly, I didn’t expect Giannis Antetokounmpo to deliver one of the most iconic performances in modern Finals history. Game 6 alone, where he dropped 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks, felt like a coronation. But what really stood out to me was how both teams approached roster construction and in-game adjustments. It reminded me of a quote I once came across from a coach in another league: “At least now, I get to choose first. I can pick what we really need. Right now, we probably just need one outside and one middle.” That mindset—prioritizing specific, complementary roles—was exactly what defined this series.
The Bucks’ front office, led by Jon Horst, made some bold moves that season, none bigger than trading for Jrue Holiday. I remember skeptics questioning whether giving up multiple first-round picks was worth it, but Holiday’s two-way impact was undeniable. He averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 9.3 assists in the Finals, and his defense on Chris Paul in the closing games was nothing short of spectacular. On the other side, the Phoenix Suns had their own formula—relying heavily on their backcourt of Devin Booker and Chris Paul, who combined for over 51 points per game in the series. But as the games wore on, their lack of frontcourt depth became glaring. It’s that “outside and middle” idea again—the Suns had the perimeter firepower, but Milwaukee’s inside presence, anchored by Giannis and Brook Lopez, proved overwhelming.
From a tactical standpoint, Mike Budenholzer’s decision to switch more aggressively on pick-and-rolls after Game 2 was a masterstroke. The Bucks held the Suns under 105 points in three of their four wins, and their defensive rating improved from 112.3 in the first two games to around 104.5 in the last four. Offensively, they pounded the paint relentlessly, scoring 58.2 points per game inside—a number that still surprises me when I look back. Personally, I think the Suns’ overreliance on mid-range jumpers hurt them in the end; as beautiful as CP3’s pull-up game is, you can’t win a championship without consistent rim pressure. Giannis, by contrast, attacked the basket with a ferocity we haven’t seen since prime Shaq.
What I take away from this series isn’t just the stats or the trophy ceremony—it’s how championship teams are built. You need stars, sure, but you also need those role players who fill the gaps, exactly like that coach’s philosophy of picking “one outside and one middle.” For Milwaukee, it was Bobby Portis providing energy off the bench and P.J. Tucker doing the dirty work defensively. For the Suns, Deandre Ayton’s 14.4 rebounds per game were impressive, but they needed one more piece—maybe a versatile wing—to get over the hump. If I were running a team, I’d study this series closely: balance matters, adjustments win games, and sometimes, the hungrier team simply wants it more. The 2021 Finals was a perfect reminder that in basketball, as in life, the right pieces in the right places make all the difference.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
