Milwaukee Bucks: 10 potential head coaching candidates

Ettore Messina

Messina is currently an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, but it’s important to note from the off that under no circumstances should that be used as anything other than a footnote on his considerable résumé.

The 58-year-old is one of the very best coaches in the world, and has the track record with multiple teams in multiple countries in Europe to back that up.

Only the legendary Željko Obradović has won more than Messina’s four EuroLeague titles as a coach, but the manner of the Italian’s wins may be even more impressive in some regard. Although storied in terms of success nationally, Virtus Bologna had never had success on a continental level before Messina arrived and delivered two EuroLeague titles, one with the help of Manu Ginobili, around the turn of the century.

Messina also won two more EuroLeague championships at CSKA Moscow, and has picked up other high profile experience as coach of Real Madrid, while prior to his current role with the Spurs he also worked as a consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Italian was known for his fiery personality and his almost iron fist-like approach to coaching during his time in Europe, and in a basketball sense his teams were famed for their ability to read and adjust to the tendencies of their opponents, and generally putting the collective above the individual. Speaking to Michael C. Wright of ESPN, Messina noted the similarity with San Antonio in that regard.

"“The Spurs play in a certain way, the European way. We share the ball. We try to do things together. This is what we in Europe think is the way we play basketball.”"

The post-heavy style he once implemented in Europe may not be ideal for the modern NBA — although with a couple of minor tweaks it could be excellent for maximizing spacing — but if ownership were confident his time in San Antonio had further advanced his formidable basketball knowledge, there wouldn’t be many more qualified candidates on the planet.