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Milwaukee Bucks: The top 5 most-likely coaching candidates

By Brian Sampson

DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 29: Head coach David Blatt of the Cleveland Cavaliers leads his team against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on December 29, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 93-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 29: Head coach David Blatt of the Cleveland Cavaliers leads his team against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on December 29, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Cavaliers defeated the Nuggets 93-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina claps for his team during Game Five against the Golden State Warriors of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina claps for his team during Game Five against the Golden State Warriors of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at ORACLE Arena on April 24, 2018 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

5. Ettore Messina

As you saw in the tweet on the first slide, Ettore Messina is one of the several early candidates to interview for the Bucks’ open position at head coach.

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Messina began as a head coach way back in 1989 in the Italian league and stayed there through the 2005 season. After that, he became a head coach for one of the Russian League teams until 2011 when he became a member of the Los Angeles Lakers coaching staff. He only lasted one year in Los Angeles, however, as he took another head coaching job in Russia the following season before finally returning to the NBA in 2014.

For the past four seasons, he’s been a member of the San Antonio Spurs’ coaching staff and has quickly garnered respect across the NBA. He even filled in for Gregg Popovich in the playoffs when Popovich’s wife passed away.

At this point, given his lack of head coaching experience in the NBA directly, he appears to be the least likely candidate on this list to receive a job offer. With so much riding on the Bucks’ coaching decision, they’ll be hard-pressed to hire someone without any direct experience.

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