Assistant coach Kenny Atkinson of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Boston Celtics during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 16, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP
The Milwaukee Bucks have received permission from the Golden State Warriors to interview associate head coach Kenny Atkinson for their open head-coaching position, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Atkinson, 55, is completing his second season with Golden State. He previously spent three-plus seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, compiling a 118-190 record from 2016-20.
The Bucks are searching for a coach after firing Mike Budenholzer due to the top-seeded club being upset by the Miami Heat in the first round of this season’s playoffs. Budenholzer coached the Bucks to the 2020-21 NBA championship and went 271-120 in five seasons.
Atkinson accepted the Charlotte Hornets’ coaching position after last season before later changing his mind and sticking with the Warriors.
Other candidates, according to ESPN, are former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego and current Bucks associate head coach Charles Lee.
Borrego, 45, went 138-163 in four seasons as coach of the Hornets before being let go after the 2021-22 season.
Lee, 38, reportedly is a finalist for the Detroit Pistons’ opening. He joined the Bucks along with Budenholzer prior to the 2018-19 season.