2 new surprise candidates added to Bucks’ list of potential head coaches

Another day, another group of candidates added to the Milwaukee Bucks’ list of interviews as they look to find their next head coach this off-season.

On May 17, veteran NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Frank Vogel is expected to interview for the position in the coming days. That news wasn’t too surprising, but the two names that followed over the next few hours certainly were. According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks interviewed both Washington Wizards assistant Joseph Blair and University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson. These are likely not two names many thought would be interviewed, but it is beyond clear that the Bucks have no problem casting an extremely wide net in this search.

2 new surprise candidates added to Bucks’ list of potential head coaches

Blair has never had an NBA head coaching gig, but he did lead the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the G-League to a championship in 2019 before serving as an assistant at the professional level with the Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Philadelphia 76ers. Fun fact: he was also a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. Meanwhile, Sampson has been coaching since 1979. While he’s never had an NBA head coaching gig, he has served as an assistant at several stops and has been a college head coach. Sampson is familiar with Milwaukee, as he served as an assistant coach there from 2008-2011.

As is the case with all first-year head coaches, there would be some risk in bringing one aboard a roster with win-now expectations. Not all first-year head coaches are guaranteed to fall flat, but their inexperience is something to take into consideration. The Bucks, who are not getting younger anytime soon, need to consider that when trying to find their next voice. Blair and Sampson are a pair of interesting names, but they fall into the category of first-year head coaching candidates.

Out of the three names added to the fold today, Vogel is certainly the most interesting, given his championship pedigree. It will be interesting to see how far these three progress in interviews.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis as this hectic search for a head coach continues.