76ers Candidate Nick Nurse is a Finalist for Bucks’ Coach Search

Nick Nurse is in a three-coach race for the Bucks job.

The Philadelphia 76ers kickstarted a search for a new head coach last week. After parting ways with Doc Rivers following a three-year run, the Sixers quickly compiled a list of six candidates they will consider bringing in to replace Rivers.

One of Philadelphia’s most notable candidates is reportedly a finalist in the Milwaukee Bucks’ search for a new head coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

On Monday, Wojnarowski reported that the Bucks have narrowed down their head coach search to three candidates. Among them are Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, and former Raptors head coach Nick Nurse.

“Those three coaches will be part of conversations with franchise leadership in the coming days, sources said. Bucks general manager Jon Horst interviewed as many 15 initial candidates in recent weeks before the franchise began to pare down the list of finalists over the weekend, sources said.”

As the Raptors wrapped up the 2022-2023 season by coming up short against the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Play-In Tournament, they called it quits with Nurse after his fifth season in charge. 

At the time of Nurse’s firing, he was viewed as a potential favorite to sign with the Houston Rockets. However, the Rockets landed former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. Since Nurse received interest from Houston, three other notable teams entered the head coach market and placed the former Raptors coach on their radar. 

Along with the Bucks, the Sixers and the Phoenix Suns are in the market for Nurse. By getting a head start this offseason, the Bucks are further down the road in their search for a new coach compared to the 76ers and the Suns.

While Nurse’s status as a finalist could speed up Phoenix’s process, Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey mentioned that Philadelphia’s search wouldn’t be rushed.

“We’re taking a careful process with the coach,” Morey explained. “We do not think it’ll move quickly. It is true, we’re going to look at all of the candidates, we’re already very encouraged by the candidates that have reached out. We have an MVP player, we have a great roster that lots of players want to play with and a lot of coaches want to be with, so we will look at that carefully.”

Along with Nurse, the Sixers are expected to show interest in former Suns head coach Monty Williams, former Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, former Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni, former Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel, and current Sixers assistant Sam Cassell.