Three potential Bucks coaching candidates who could replace Doc Rivers

Three potential Bucks coaching candidates who could replace Doc Rivers

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.

More: Giannis Antetokounmpo opens up about frustrations, future with Bucks

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.

Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.

Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.

Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.

Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

1 / 8

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors' Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards' Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.

3 / 8

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets' Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns' Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 24: The Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.

7 / 8

Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 22: The New York Knicks' OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz's Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.

Milwaukee Bucks head coaching candidates

Here are a few candidates to replace Doc Rivers as the Milwaukee Bucks' next head coach

Sam Cassell

Boston 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 Jenkins

Taylor 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 Thibodeau

The 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