Beno Udrih played for 13 seasons in the NBA, which includes a two-season stint with the Milwaukee Bucks. So, it goes without saying that the crafty left-handed guard is a familiar face in Wisconsin. Now, the veteran player is back in the Badger state to take on a new role as head coach of the Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks NBA G League affiliate team.
Having played for so long in the NBA, Udrih shared that he expects to use his experiences to relate to the players he’ll be tasked with mentoring.
“As a former player, I hope to bring a certain level of relatability to my approach and help our players become the best version of themselves,” Udrih said.
Seasoned veteran
The Slovenian brings with him an incredible amount of basketball knowledge culled from the 21 years he spent playing in the NBA and in overseas leagues. He was the 28th overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 NBA Draft. Not long after, he became a two-time champion, functioning primarily as the Spurs’ backup point guard.
He soon joined the Sacramento Kings, where he had his best seasons, statistics-wise. His best season came during the 2010-2011 season, where he averaged 13.7 points and 4.9 assists. He also had stops in Orlando, New York, Memphis, Miami, and Detroit before finally retiring in 2018.
"It feels great to be back in Wisconsin. I have a long-standing respect for the Herd and Bucks as an entire organization. I’m excited to get to work and do my best to help develop our players both on and off the court,” Udrih added.
Great fit
Bucks general manager Jon Horst understands the significance the Herd plays in the development of Milwaukee’s young players and believes Udrih is a great fit for the role.
“Beno brings a wealth of basketball knowledge from his playing career in the NBA and internationally, as well as coaching experience at the NBA and NBA G League levels,” Horst said in a statement. “Beno’s collaborative approach and passion for teaching the nuances of the game will make him a great fit for this position.”
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