It’s official: Mike Budenholzer has been fired as head coach of the NBA Milwaukee Bucks. The decision comes after the team’s disappointing early exit from the 2023 playoffs against the 8th-seed Miami Heat. The Bucks were the best team in the Eastern Conference but their playoff run was rather disappointing. Despite having the two-time MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo and an otherwise talented roster. Now, the question on everyone’s mind is: who will be the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks?
BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks dismissed coach Mike Budenholzer, sources tell ESPN. Budenholzer is out after the East’s top-seed suffered a first-round loss to the Miami Heat. pic.twitter.com/wQp0Zk3lxi
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2023
Here are the top four candidates to replace Budenholzer:
Nick Nurse – former Toronto Raptors head coach
In 2018, the Toronto Raptors leaned on Nick Nurse to lead the team. A year after, he led them to their first NBA championship in 2019. Subsequently, he won the Coach of the Year award in the following year. He has a reputation as a creative and innovative coach who is not afraid to try new things. Nurse’s Raptors teams have always been strong defensively, and he has shown an ability to get the most out of his players.
However, he was dismissed by the Raptors a few days ago after failing to reach the 2023 playoffs. That means, Nurse is available in the market to whichever team sees him as a fit head coach. With Frank Vogel (Lakers), Nick Nurse, and now Mike Budenholzer, it seems that the coaches of past champions are each getting fired.
Why he should be hired: Nurse’s championship pedigree and ability to get the most out of his players would be a valuable asset to the Milwaukee Bucks. He has proven that he can make adjustments on the fly, which is something that Budenholzer struggled with at times. During Mike Budenholzer’s stint with the Bucks, there were rumors that he failed to make game-changing decisions and that some players were growing impatient.
Charles Lee – Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach
Unlike his co-assistant head coach Darvin Ham, Charles Lee might rise up to the ranks as the Bucks’ new head coach. This seems like a pretty logical idea – picking Budenholzer’s replacement from within the team. Lee has been an assistant coach with the Bucks since 2018 and has been credited with helping to develop the team’s offensive system. He has a good working relationship with Giannis Antetokounmpo and other players on the roster. Darvin Ham got the job as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach in 2022, so it wouldn’t be impossible for Lee to do the same.
Why he should be hired: Lee has been with the team for several years and knows the players and the organization well. He has been instrumental in developing the team’s offensive system, which has been one of the best in the league. Therefore, Charles Lee would bring continuity to the team, which could be valuable in a coaching change.
Becky Hammon – former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach
Becky Hammon was an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite being a woman, she has been widely regarded as a potential head coach in the NBA for several years. She has a strong basketball background, having played in the WNBA for 16 seasons and coaching a lot of different teams. Today, Hammon is spearheading the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA. There were rumors that she was the top priority to replace Nick Nurse in Toronto, but she declined.
Why she should be hired: Hammon would be a trailblazer as the first female head coach in NBA history. She has shown an ability to connect with players and has earned the respect of the Spurs organization, especially Gregg Popovich. Hammon would bring a fresh perspective to the Bucks and could be a valuable addition to the coaching staff.
David Adelman – Denver Nuggets assistant coach
Adelman has been an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets since 2019 and has worked under highly regarded head coach Michael Malone. He has also been an assistant coach with several other NBA teams, including the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves. As the son of legendary coach, Rick Adelman, it could be high time David Adelman follows in his father’s footsteps, by taking a higher responsibility.
Why he should be hired: Adelman has a strong basketball background and has worked under several highly regarded coaches. He has experience working with both veteran and young players, which could be valuable for the Bucks. Adelman has a reputation as a hard worker and a good communicator, which are important qualities for a head coach.
Although we are sad about Budenholzer’s firing, the Milwaukee Bucks have several strong candidates to replace Mike Budenholzer as head coach.
Truly, each of the four potential candidates brings something different to the table. Whether it’s championship experience, continuity, a fresh perspective, or a strong basketball background. Ultimately, the Bucks will need to carefully consider their options and choose the coach who is best suited to lead them to a championship in the 2023-2024 season.
Which of these coaches do you think will be hired by the Bucks? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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