NBA insider names finalists for Milwaukee Bucks' head coaching position

Could the Milwaukee Bucks be close to finally naming a new head coach? It certainly appears that way, as NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Bucks have narrowed their search down to three candidates: former Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, current Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson, and Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin.

Thorough vetting

According to Wojnarowski, the three coaches will next meet with various decision-makers within the Bucks organization to try and see who will be the perfect fit for a team looking for redemption after getting bounced from the first round of the NBA Playoffs despite being the odds-on favorite to win the NBA title. The Bucks have been searching for a new head coach since firing longtime coach Mike Budenholzer in early May.

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

“Those three coaches will be part of conversations with franchise leadership in the coming days, sources said,” wrote Wojnarowski.

Nurse looms large

Of the three, Nurse appears to have the inside track due in part to the NBA title he won with the Raptors in 2019. He was also the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2020.

“Nurse looms prominently in not only the Bucks' search but those of the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, sources said. The Raptors and Detroit Pistons also have ongoing searches for a new coach,” said Wojnarowski.

Phoenix Suns are formulating a list of head coaching candidates that includes assistant Kevin Young, Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 14, 2023

Whoever the Bucks will name will have a mountain of expectations to deal with. The team has nothing but title aspirations, especially with a healthy and highly-motivated Giannis Antetokounmpo returning to the fold along with fellow All-Star Jrue Holiday. Based on the current roster, it’s not hard to envision a deep playoff run in 2023 and beyond. It will be up to Nurse or whoever else Milwaukee hires to make sure that happens.