“Mike Budenholzer is the name at the tip of everyone’s tongue when discussing potential Nets coaching candidates due to his Spurs tree connection, winning a championship, and he’s arguably the most notable name on the market” - @MikeAScotto
Brooklyn Nets may hire former Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer
NBAThursday, 22 February 2024 at 05:00
Only a few days ago, the Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Jacque Vaughn after the team acquired only 21 wins so far this season. They then installed Kevin Ollie as the interim coach for the rest of the season but most analysts assume the front office will find a new leader in the summer.
According to Marc Stein, former Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer might get the job.
“Mike Budenholzer’s name immediately circulated as a potential Nets candidate in the wake of Vaughn’s dismissal, which was no surprise given [Sean] Marks’ and Budenholzer’s shared ties to San Antonio. But, Bud figures to be a top contender for multiple offseason job openings. He surely has an incentive to see how the coaching market develops,” Stein wrote.
Budenholzer has been a part of the coaching world for years now. He first got his start as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs in 1996. then, after more than a decade with that team, he was given the head coach position with the Atlanta Hawks in 2013. He moved to the Bucks in 2018 and led the team to their first Finals win in years.
But things soured between the Bucks and Budenholzer last postseason, when the top-seeded team was pushed out of the playoffs in the opening round by the Miami Heat. The former Coach of the Year was relieved of his duties almost immediately after, later replaced by Adrian Griffin and then Doc Rivers.
During his time running the Bucks, Budenholzer helped both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez become accomplished and reliable shooters. The Nets' front office is hoping that if they hire Budenholzer, he can help players like Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton progress even more.
There is a good chance that Budenholzer is coveted by several teams this summer, so the Nets might have to work hard to sign him.
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