Would Mike Budenholzer be a good hire for the Nets' head coach position?

Originally posted on FanNation Inside The Nets
By Peter Sunjic | Last updated 2/22/24

With Jacque Vaughn 's dismissal, the Brooklyn Nets are sticking with Kevin Ollie as the interim head coach. While Ollie could impress and earn the head coach position, Nets general manager Sean Marks noted that the front office will do an extensive search.

Ollie still has a case but has lofty competition in the race. The most prominent candidate is champion coach Mike Budenholzer, formerly the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach from 2018 to 2023, winning a title in 2021.

With this possibility, the question is if Coach Bud fits well with the Nets. Let’s take a look.

“Mike Budenholzer is the name at the tip of everyone’s tongue when discussing potential Nets coaching candidates due to his Spurs tree connection, winning a championship, and he’s arguably the most notable name on the market,” Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto said.

The Spurs connection

Marks was once a player from 2003 to 2006 and an assistant coach from 2013 to 2016 for the San Antonio Spurs. During that time, Coach Bud was one of Gregg Popovich’s most trusted assistants, which benefited him greatly as he became a champion coach.

That connection between Marks and Budenholzer can be a big reason behind the former hiring the latter for the Nets job. It could be a high-ceiling move for the Nets, as Bud’s championship pedigree can rub off on the players.

The case for hiring Coach Bud

Apart from the connection between Marks and Bud, there are plenty of reasons why the Nets should hire the former champion head coach. The former Bucks coach treats everyone equally, which is a big deal for any head coach.

On his Xs and Os, the championship-winning coach is superb on both ends of the court. He turned the Bucks into a defensive fortress with him as the coach, while he turned Atlanta into a solid offensive team despite not having a superstar player.

The latter is a good argument for the Nets, as they don’t have the superstar players, at least not yet. They have some talented role players and borderline All-Stars, but they need a coach that could take them over the hump.

That could be Coach Ollie, but if the Nets do an extensive coaching search, Budenholzer would be one of the best and most qualified candidates for what Brooklyn is trying to do.