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    Milwaukee Bucks: 2023 Coaching Candidate Was Among the Firsts to See Giannis Antetokounmpo Becoming the Best, Wanted to Trade Him for Him As Bucks Coach

    mattmitty26By No Comments3 Mins Read
    USATSI 8382202
    Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks (far right) instructs center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz (27), guard Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (34), guard Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (22), and forward Nikola Mirotic of the Chicago Bulls (44) during the second half against the U.S. Team at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

    Kenny Atkinson almost become the Milwaukee Bucksโ€™ coach in 2023 when the team were still looking for a replacement to Mike Budenholzer. He probably would have loved the stint as he got to coach Giannis Antetokounmpo who according to Jeff Teague caught the eye of Atkinson when he was still an innocent, lanky small forward.

    Milwaukee Bucks, Khris Middleton
    May 5, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jeff Teague (5) reacts after scoring a three-point basket with an assist from forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

    Teague was with Atkinson in the Atlanta Hawks from 2012 to 2016 with the latter working as an assistant coach. Antetokounmpo was only 19 years old in 2014 but Atkinson, according to the former Bucks point guard already know how huge he can get.

    โ€œKenny Atkinson literally said to me that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry will be the best players in the league,โ€ Teague said in his Club 520 podcast.

    โ€œHe told me that he watched that kid [Giannis] dribble, sharing the balls behind his back, he said that he will be the best in the league and that we should trade for him. And Hawks tried to but couldnโ€™t get it done.โ€

    Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
    Apr 1, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

    Atkinson was right. Antetokounmpo is now one of the best players in the league since 2019. He was won everything there is to win in NBA.

    Why Atkinson did not become Milwaukee Bucksโ€™ coach?

    Atkinson is with the Cleveland Cavaliers now. He even won the Coach of the Year award last season for turning the Cavs into the top of the Eastern Conference.

    There was a time though that he was almost a Bucks coach. In 2023, the team fired Budenholzer and had Atkinson and Adrian Griffin compete for the head coaching job. The latter got the post but fired him after just 43 games with a 30-13 record.

    Kenny Atkinson
    May 6, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game two of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

    The Bucks reportedly tried to contact him again according to a report in January 2024 but no deal was reached.

    The team instead hired Doc Rivers.

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