After moving on from Mike Budenholzer, the Milwaukee Bucks are searching near and far for a suitable replacement for the NBA Champion head coach.
The Bucks finished the regular season with a 58-24 record, which made them the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs. However, the team was shocked by the 8-seed Miami Heat in the first round in a very disappointing finish to the year.
That’s now left organizational leadership in Milwaukee searching for a new head coach. And the Bucks have reportedly reached into the college coaching ranks to interview one of the top coaches in the sport.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks interviewed for the franchise’s head-coaching opening with University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson.
According to Wojnarowski, Sampson is the first known high-profile college coach to meet with Milwaukee about its head coaching vacancy. Whether that means Milwaukee will interview other college coaches remains to be seen. As for Sampson, the 67-year-old could be looking at an NBA return. From 2008-2014, he was an assistant with both the Bucks and Houston Rockets.
Sampson left to take the head coaching job at Houston in 2014 and has led the Cougars to a 232-74 record in nine seasons at the helm. During that time, Houston has recorded four consecutive Sweet 16 berths, as well as a trip to the Final Four in 2021.
Sampson’s reputation as a high-profile head coach precedes him. And judging by the reactions on social media, those in the NBA world are intrigued by the possibility of him returning to the pro ranks.
When I first got to the NBA Kelvin Sampson was my trainer for the bucks that’s when I scored 55 and we got to the playoffs. Great times!!!
But to answer your question yes I think so but man he got Houston rollin’. Bucks thinking 🤔? https://t.co/VDx45CHEiR
— Brandon Jennings (@Tuff__Crowd) May 17, 2023
Kelvin Sampson would be interesting to me. He recruits a lot of athletes so would seemingly prioritize them in Milwaukee.
But that has typically came without shooting which is (let's say) less interesting.
— Abe Jaroszewski (@AbeJaroszewski) May 17, 2023
the bucks are interviewing kelvin sampson? very interesting coaching search so far
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) May 17, 2023
Oh wow, this could be, very very wild.
Kelvin Sampson is definitely deserving of an NBA job. https://t.co/N3NMyeoNqL
— Global Scouting (@GlobalScouting_) May 17, 2023
While multiple reports suggest that Sampson will be returning to Houston for another season, as we’ve come to find out in this industry, that remains to be seen.
[ESPN]
