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Former Bucks Coach Mike Budenholzer Among Finalists for Nets Job, per Report
Mike Budenholzer is in the running to get back into the NBA.
Budenholzer, who was dismissed by the Milwaukee Bucks last May, reportedly is among the finalists for the Brooklyn Nets' open head-coaching position. The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Saturday that Budenholzer, Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez and Suns associate head coach Kevin Young are among those linked to be final candidates to fill the position.
Budenholzer led the Bucks for five seasons from 2018 to '23, compiling a 271–120 record and guiding Milwaukee to its second NBA championship in franchise history in 2021. He was dismissed from his duties last season after the Bucks secured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but fell in their first-round playoff series to the No. 8-seeded Miami Heat.
Fernandez, 41, is one of the most highly respected assistant coaches in basketball. He began his career as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets from 2016 to '22 and has served as the Kings' associate head coach under Mike Brown for the past two seasons.
Young, 42, has been with the Suns for the past three seasons as their associate head coach under Monty Williams and Frank Vogel. He began his coaching career with the Nuggets in 2016, working alongside Fernandez in Denver for six seasons.
The Nets fired coach Jacque Vaughn in February, 44 games into the 2023-24 campaign. Brooklyn was 21–33 at the time and are 11–16 under interim coach Kevin Ollie with one game remaining in the regular season.
Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.