The Milwaukee Bucks have narrowed the group of top candidates in the franchise's coaching search and plan on meeting with ex-Toronto coach Nick Nurse, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson and Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin this week, sources told ESPN on Monday.
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.
Nurse looms prominently in not only the Bucks' search but those of the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers, sources said. The Raptors and Detroit Pistons also have ongoing searches for a new coach.
The Bucks offer an appealing job in a competitive marketplace with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in his prime. Milwaukee is searching to replace Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the team was upset in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No.