yahoo - 4/14/2026 8:21:33 PM - GMT (+2 )
The Milwaukee Bucks have decided to go in a different direction than Doc Rivers as head coach, and the question looms: who is in consideration to be the next head coach?
The decision follows a disappointing 32-50 season that left Milwaukee out of the playoffs, compounded by reported tension between Rivers and the players. ESPN has reported that the Bucks will still owe Rivers his salary for the 2026-27 season and Rivers could potentially transition to an advisory role with the organization, though nothing has been finalized.
Now, all eyes will be on who will take over in Milwaukee, and there are a few name in the mix.
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Here are a few candidates to replace Doc Rivers as the Milwaukee Bucks' next head coach
Sam CassellBoston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell is widely considered one of the most qualified and overdue head coaching candidates in the NBA, making him a compelling fit for Milwaukee’s vacancy.
As a player, Cassell spent 15 seasons in the NBA, suiting up for eight franchises and earning an All-Star selection along the way. He won three championships on the court and added a fourth from the bench when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals, his first title as a assistant coach.
Cassell has 17 years of assistant coaching experience across four NBA franchises: the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Celtics.
Taylor JenkinsTaylor Jenkins is coming off a surprising firing in Memphis last year, making him one of the more intriguing names available for the Bucks’ vacancy.
Jenkins was let go by the Grizzlies in March 2025 with just nine games left in the regular season, a stunning move given that Memphis was the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference at the time. He departed as the franchise’s all-time winningest coach, finishing with a 250-214 record across six seasons. During his tenure, he guided Memphis to three playoff appearances and two 50-win seasons. He also finished in the top 10 of NBA Coach of the Year voting three times, including a runner-up finish in 2021-22.
Prior to Memphis, Jenkins built a strong résumé as an assistant. He spent five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks under Mike Budenholzer, helping the team’s run to the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals. He then followed Budenholzer to Milwaukee for the 2018-19 season, where the Bucks finished with a league-best 60 wins and clinched the No. 1 seed in the East.
Tom ThibodeauThe New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau on June 3, 2025, just days after their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Indiana Pacers.
In five seasons, Thibodeau went 226-174, led the Knicks to back-to-back 50-win seasons for the first time since 1995, and guided them to their deepest playoff run in 25 years.
Before arriving in New York, Thibodeau had already established himself as a successful coach. He coached the Chicago Bulls from 2010 to 2015, going 255-139 and winning NBA Coach of the Year in his first season after tying the record for most wins by a rookie head coach with 62. He then coached the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016 to 2019 before landing with the Knicks.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bucks head coach: Three candidates who could replace Doc Rivers
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