Bucks to Interview Blazers Assistant Scott Brooks

The Bucks received permission to interview Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks for their head-coaching vacancy, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Brooks, 57, coached the Thunder from 2008-15, including the days of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden and the trip to the 2012 NBA Finals.

He later coached the Wizards from 2016-21, again featuring Westbrook for a season, before joining Chauncey Billups‘ staff with the Wizards.

Overall, Brooks has a 521-414 regular-season mark and a 49-48 playoff record in 12 years as an NBA head coach.

The Bucks are putting together an extensive search led by GM Jon Horst. It is said to include former Nets coach and current Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, former Hornets coach James Borrego, and current Bucks assistant Charles Lee, as we relayed here.

Lee, of course, was the top assistant under Mike Budenholzer — fired after the Bucks lost in the first round despite compiling the NBA’s best record (58-24). Lee has also reportedly spoken to the Raptors and is considered a frontrunner for the Pistons’ vacancy.

Brooks has been known as a players’ coach, with both Westbrook and former Wizards point guard John Wall among his supporters in Washington. He has spent the past two seasons with the Blazers.

ESPN Sources: The Milwaukee Bucks have secured permission to interview to Portland Trail Blazers assistant Scott Brooks for franchise’s head coaching job. Brooks has a 521-414 (.557) regular season and 49-48 (.505) playoff record in 12 seasons with Oklahoma City and Washington.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 11, 2023