Bucks Expected to Interview Kenny Atkinson, James Borrego, Others for Coaching Job

The Bucks have been granted permission to interview Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson for their head-coaching vacancy, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Other candidates are expected to include former Hornets coach James Borrego and current Bucks assistant Charles Lee, among multiple others, Wojnarowski added.

Milwaukee is seeking a replacement for Mike Budenholzer, fired after an upset loss to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks entered the postseason at 58-24 for the league’s best record.

Atkinson, 55, has spent each of the last two seasons with coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors. Before that, he spent a year on the Clippers bench.

He was head coach of the Nets from 2016-20, fired just several days before the league shut down because of the COVID pandemic. With Brooklyn, Atkinson compiled a record of 118-190.

He has also held assistant coaching jobs with the Hawks and Knicks from 2008-16.

Borrego, 45, was unemployed this season after coaching the Hornets for four years. They improved by 10 wins in each of his final three.

Overall he compiled a 138-163 record with Charlotte. He has also served as an assistant with the Pelicans, Magic and Spurs.

Lee, 38, has been an assistant under Budenholzer since 2014, first with the Hawks and then with the Bucks, starting in 2018. Milwaukee won the championship in 2019.

In the event Budenholzer gets another job and Lee does not, you can expect the two to join forces again soon.

ESPN Sources: Milwaukee was granted permission to interview Golden State associate HC Kenny Atkinson. Some of other candidates expected to meet with Bucks on coaching job are Milwaukee associate HC Charles Lee, ex-Charlotte coach James Borrego. There will be additional candidates…

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 10, 2023