Brooklyn Nets reportedly in talks with 2-time Coach of the Year winner for head coach vacancy

A new report claims a coach who recently led a team to an NBA title is among the finalists for the Brooklyn Nets head coach vacancy.

Heading into the NBA games today the Brooklyn Nets are just playing out the string on another disappointing season. While this year was devoid of the drama that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving brought last season, they still will finish with one of the 10 worst records in the league in 2023-24.

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Making matters worse is, despite doing a solid job after replacing Steve Nash following his firing, Jacque Vaughn could not build on his previous success and was the latest Brooklyn coach to be ousted during the season.

The team is looking for its fifth coach in the last six seasons but unlike when Nash took over in 2020, the Nets don’t have the selling point of having superstars like Durant and Irving on the roster this time around. While Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas are nice young pieces, being the leader of the redheaded stepchild in New York basketball is a tough position.

Nevertheless, it seems that one of the best head coaches of the last decade is reportedly in the running to take over the Brooklyn Nets bench next season.

Mike Budenholzer among finalists for Brooklyn Nets head coach opening

On Saturday afternoon, The Athletic NBA insider Shams Charania reported that “Bucks championship coach Mike Budenholzer, Kings associate Jordi Fernandez and Suns associate Kevin Young have emerged among the finalists for the Brooklyn Nets head coaching job.”

Many believe Budenholzer got a raw deal when he was fired by the Bucks following a surprise first-round elimination to the Miami Heat last year. During his run in Milwaukee, he earned Coach of the Year honors twice (2014-15 and 2018-19) and led the franchise to their first championship in 50 years in 2020-21.

• Mike Budenholzer record (Career): 484-317

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