One of the more popular interviews this offseason for NBA jobs that are open has been San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina, and he will be having another interview on Saturday, this time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina is interviewing for the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach opening in Milwaukee today, a source told ESPN's The Undefeated.
He will be the second interview in as many days for Spurs assistant coaches. On Friday Becky Hammon became the first woman to ever interview for an NBA head coaching job.
For Messina, he has no shortage of coaching experience, especially overseas, but he also got some this year with the Spurs. After Gregg Popovich's wife died, Messina was the one who took over and coached the team for the rest of the playoffs.
He started his coaching career in Europe winning for EuroLeague titles before coming over to the States to be an assistant coach. He was also the Italian National Team coach in the 1990's. For the last few years, he has been Popovich's right-hand man and it seems like it's only a matter of time before he will get his first head coaching gig.
After the season ended a lot of the Spurs players said it was time for Messina to get his chance to lead a team.
“He handled it very well, with great composure. He handled the adversity and also the opportunity really well”, Pau Gasol said via Tom Osborn of the Houston Chronicle. “He sent the right message to the team coaching the right way. He was always sharp and in control of the situation. He did a good job.”
“Messina has been one of the top head coaches in Europe. It's hard to get that opportunity in the NBA, but if there's someone who should get it, it should be him.”
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