Bucks Fire Mike Budenholzer; Spurs Return?

The San Antonio Spurs could reunite with coach Mike Budenholzer after the Milwaukee Bucks fired him.

It's been a decade since Mike Budenholzer left Gregg Popovich's bench with the San Antonio Spurs to be a head coach of his own.

But after five seasons each with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) and Milwaukee Bucks (2018-2023), Budenholzer is looking for a new home.

The former Spurs assistant spent 17 years under Popovich in San Antonio and was apart of the first four championships in franchise history. Then, as a head coach, he won a ring with the Bucks in 2021. However, Milwaukee's decline since hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy led to his firing earlier this month.

Now that the 53-year-old former Coach of the Year is unemployed, could Pop give him his old job back?

The Spurs would love to have someone familiar to their system back in the fold, especially as a potential successor for Popovich should he decide to retire soon. However, other teams may offer Budenholzer a head coaching job sooner than San Antonio would.

Currently, the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors have head coaching vacancies, both of which could be filled by Budenholzer.

However, if both of those teams go in different directions with their respective head coaching searches, Budenholzer may find himself back where it all started.

---

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Spurs? Click Here.

Follow Inside the Spurs on Twitter.

Follow Inside the Spurs on Facebook.

Want even more San Antonio Spurs news? Check out the SI.com team page here