NBA Rumors: Mike Budenholzer, Jordi Fernandez, Kevin Young Among Nets HC Finalists

Mike Budenholzer, Jordi Fernandez and Kevin Young have emerged as some of the finalists to be the Brooklyn Nets' next head coach, per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania.

Budenholzer has the most experience of the three, serving as a head coach from 2013 to 2023. He led the Atlanta Hawks from 2013 to 2018 before taking over as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who he led to a championship in 2021. Budenholzer was fired in 2023 after a first-round playoff exit to the Miami Heat.

Fernandez currently serves as the associate head coach of the Sacramento Kings as well as the head coach of Canada's men's national team. He has been with the Kings since 2022.

Young is the associate head coach of the Phoenix Suns and has been in that role since 2021.

Charania also reported that interim head coach Kevin Ollie "has been considered" during the search, along with "several other coaches, including Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn and New Orleans associate head coach James Borrego," but noted Brooklyn "has honed in on new candidates as finalists for the full-time job."

The Nets have faced plenty of uncertainty at the head coach position over the past four years. After Brooklyn fired Kenny Atkinson during the 2019-20 season, Steve Nash took over as head coach ahead of the 2020-21 season. Nash's tenure ended just weeks into the 2022-23 season and Jacque Vaughn took over shortly after.

The Nets fired Vaughn in February after a 21-33 start to the year.

Budenholzer would be a solid choice for Brooklyn given his track record of success in his previous positions. During his time with Atlanta, he led the Hawks to the playoffs in all but one season. In 2015, Atlanta notched its only 60-win season in franchise history and reached the conference finals.

Under Budenholzer, the Bucks reached the playoffs five times and won their first championship since 1971.

While Budenholzer is the more experienced head coach, getting a fresh face in Fernandez or Young could be the way to go. Both candidates have coached under veteran head coaches with Fernandez working under Mike Brown and Michael Malone and Young working under Monty Williams and Frank Vogel. Should the Nets take a chance on Fernandez or Young, it could pay dividends.