The Milwaukee Bucks have narrowed their next head coach to three candidates. Including, former Nets head coach and Warriors assistant, Kenny Atkinson. Long time Raptors assistant coach, Adrian Griffin. And the one who most Bucks Fans on social media have been hoping for, former Raptors head coach, Nick Nurse.
ESPN Sources: The Bucks are narrowing group of top candidates in franchise’s head coaching search: Nick Nurse, Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson and Toronto assistant Adrian Griffin. These coaches will be part of final conversations with Milwaukee leadership this week.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 22, 2023
These three will begin the final interviewing process this week with the Bucks’ organization to see who will land the job. Lets meet the candidates below.
Kenny Atkinson
Atkinson was the coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020 and brought the best out of a team that was hampered by lack of draft picks but he really got the best out of his young team. Atkinson was kicked out of the door due to the demands of star power that came in with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Atkinson since, has spent time under Ty Lue and Steve Kerr as top assistants under the Clippers and Warriors. Atkinson would be a solid fit given his ability to buy players in.
Adrian Griffin
Adrian Griffin is a long time assistant and actually was an assistant with the Bucks from 2008-2010. Griffin is also a former NBA player so he brings that to the table, an ability to relate to the players he coaches. Griffin is a favorite for the Raptors vacant head coaching job as well, as he has been an assistant there since 2018. Griffin did a great job at times when their head coach, Nick Nurse wasn’t available due to Covid symptoms in the past.
Nick Nurse
Lastly, Nick Nurse has been the Raptors head coach since 2018 and was the top assistant there from 2013-2018. Nick Nurse won a championship with Toronto in 2019 and won Coach of the Year in 2020. Nurse also out coached former Bucks head coach, Mike Budenholzer in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals after a 0-2 hole. Nurse is the favorite and would be the best fit for the Bucks going forward.
