The Milwaukee Bucks have begun the search for a new head coach, and there have been plenty of candidates linked to the position.
With over a dozen candidates in mind, it’s time to go through each of them and put them into tiers based on their desirability for the job. With that said, let us not waste more time.
Tier 1 of Milwaukee Bucks’ candidates – Not interested
Mark Jackson: Having not coached since 2014, it was surprising when Mark Jackson was given an interview for this position. While Jackson holds some responsibility for getting the wheels turning on what became the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty, he’s been out of the game for nine seasons, and there is no telling what he’d look like in today’s game. It’d be quite a gamble for the Bucks to bring aboard Jackson, especially looking at the list of other candidates.
Doc Rivers: Experience needs to be a big factor in the Bucks’ next coach, but that does not mean Doc Rivers should be extremely high on the team’s wish list. Following his title run in 2008, Rivers’ teams have had plenty of shortcomings, primarily courtesy of blown leads in the postseason time and time again. His Philadelphia 76ers just blew a 3-2 playoff lead less than a week ago, which led to him being fired. Mike Budenholzer wasn’t perfect, but hiring Rivers after firing him would seem like a major step back for the Milwaukee Bucks regardless.
Scott Brooks: Scott Brooks is another very experienced candidate, and while he does not have a ring attached to his name like Doc Rivers, he has been to the NBA Finals. However, he’s not high on this list due to his lack of creativity on the offensive side of the ball, which is highlighted very well in this piece from SB Nation’s Satchel Price. Among the reasons why the Bucks have fallen short in the playoffs over the past two years has been a lack of creative offense and just playing “random” basketball on that side of things. Someone whose well-known weakness is creativity on offense should have some red flags next to their name in this search.
Tier 2 of Milwaukee Bucks’ candidates – I have some concerns/questions
To be upfront, all but one first-year coaching candidate will be featured in this tier due to their inexperience. Not all first-time head coaches are bad, but there is a bit of a gamble in the Bucks’ case due to their contending status.
Kevin Young: After serving as an assistant with the Phoenix Suns since 2020, Kevin Young seems likely to get heavy consideration for a head coaching job this off-season. Not only have the Bucks expressed interest, but the Suns and Raptors have as well. Young has served as a head coach in the G-League but never the NBA. There is some intrigue regarding what he could do at this level with full control but also plenty of uncertainty.
Adrian Griffin: Having served as the top assistant for the Toronto Raptors, Adrian Griffin seems to be the current favorite to land their next head coaching job. However, that has still not stopped the Bucks from interviewing him. Griffin seems ready to take the next step into head coaching, but his recent history with the Raptors means it would make more sense for him to do it in Toronto over Milwaukee.
Charles Lee: Every year, Charles Lee has gotten heavy consideration for a head coaching job but has never officially landed one. This could very well be his off-season, as the Bucks, Pistons, and Raptors have all been linked to him. Lee could be a great head coach, but his ties to the previous coaching regime put him in this particular category. It feels like the Bucks need to wipe the slate entirely clean and start fresh rather than hiring someone who worked under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Joseph Blair: Currently a member of the Washington Wizards’ staff, Joseph Blair has an interesting resume. He’s never been a head coach at the NBA level but has been in the G-League and won a ring with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2019. He was also on the Harlem Globetrotters back in the day. His lack of head coaching experience at the NBA level puts him in this particular tier.
Kelvin Sampson: This is an interesting case here, as Kelvin Sampson is the only collegiate coach to interview for Milwaukee’s position. While he’s got plenty of past experience as an assistant, which included a stint in Milwaukee from 2008 to 2011, bringing aboard a college coach would be quite a gamble for the Milwaukee Bucks, especially with no prior NBA head coaching experience.
Will Weaver: The Bucks are scouring the globe for their next head coach, as they’ve also got Paris Basketball head coach Will Weaver on their radar. Weaver has worked as an NBA assistant before but is now overseas. With no NBA head coaching experience, Weaver will land here.
Tier 3 of Milwaukee Bucks’ candidates – I’m intrigued
James Borrego: Among the more underrated names in this search is James Borrego. Although the Hornets never made the playoffs under Borrego, his teams saw a 10-win increase in his last three years as head coach, going from 23 to 33 to 43. During that 43-win season, the Hornets ranked eighth in offensive rating and led the NBA in assists per game, per NBA.com. Perhaps Borrego could bring some of that offense to Milwaukee, as this team needs someone who can keep the wheels turning on that side of the basketball. Keep an eye on Borrego as this search intensifies.
Frank Vogel: One year before the Bucks won their title, Frank Vogel led the Lakers to a title in the NBA Bubble. Vogel’s calling card that season was defense, as the Lakers were formidable on that side of things all season. He could bring some of that defensive expertise to Milwaukee and make sure this team stays strong on that side of things. Vogel’s style on the offensive end is nothing to write home about, which could make some hesitant to bring him in, and understandably so. Still, that championship ring and years of prior experience make Vogel at least somewhat compelling.
Monty Williams: At this point in time, it seems like Monty Williams is the frontrunner for the Bucks’ job. Williams has been on Milwaukee’s radar for years, as they also interviewed him for their opening back in 2018. Their interest makes sense, as Williams had a great run in Phoenix, having won Coach of the Year, coached his team to the NBA Finals, and had the Suns atop the league record-wise one season. The questions about Williams involve his ability to make major adjustments in key moments. It’s among the reasons why the Bucks came back from an 0-2 hole against the Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals. The Bucks have had an adjustment problem for years, so bringing in Williams would be somewhat worrisome. However, he’s still a somewhat interesting candidate for the job due to his experience and resume.
Tier 4 of Milwaukee Bucks’ candidates – I’m very intrigued
Kenny Atkinson: From the moment Milwaukee’s coaching search began, Kenny Atkinson was among the most desirable names. In addition to having four years of coaching experience as the leader of the Brooklyn Nets, Atkinson has worked under some of the best coaches in the game, including Steve Kerr, Tyronn Lue, Mike D’Antoni, and Mike Budenholzer. Though he finished his tenure with the Nets with a 118-190 record, those teams battled injuries and lacked star power. Many wonder what Atkinson could do with a roster like Milwaukee’s. His approach offensively could help the Bucks, who have lacked creativity on that end of things in recent years, mightily.
Chris Quinn: The lone potential first-time head coach to make it out of Tier 2 is Chris Quinn of the Miami Heat. What separates Quinn from the pack is that he’s been under arguably the best coach in the association, Erik Spoelstra, since 2014, and has seemingly picked up on plenty in that span. When discussing Quinn, Heat forward Udonis Haslem previously said, “He has the knowledge, the experience, the relationship with the players. He has every base covered when you talk about checking the boxes to have the ability to be a successful head coach.” Having someone who checks off those boxes while also coming from the Spoelstra tree is undeniably captivating, especially as the Heat continue an excellent run in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Tier 5 of Milwaukee Bucks’ candidates – The clear-cut men for the job
Tyronn Lue: It’s no surprise that fans were clamoring for Tyronn Lue when it was reported that the Bucks had some interest in making him their next head coach. Lue is undeniably one of the better head coaches across the league and has a ring from a 2016 title run with the Cavaliers. He’s been pegged as one of the best adjustment makers in the league, which should captivate the Bucks to the highest degree, given how much of a weak point that has been for them over the years. There is one big problem with Lue, and that’s that he’s still under contract with the Clippers right now. That makes it hard for the Bucks to get him, but not impossible. He would be a home run hire.
Nick Nurse: From the moment Mike Budenholzer was let go, most Bucks fans were calling for the team to interview Nick Nurse. Nurse was recently dismissed by the Raptors and is interviewing for a handful of jobs across the league. The Bucks are coming up on that list, and Nurse would be an excellent hire. Yes, there are questions as to what Nurse could bring to this team offensively, but his approach defensively and ability to keep players well-conditioned would be tremendous. He’s also got championship pedigree, having won a title with the Raptors in 2019, where he coached a wonderful series against the Milwaukee Bucks to get there in the first place.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis this off-season.