San Antonio Spurs assistant Ime Udoka will interview for the Charlotte Hornets' coaching vacancy this week, league sources told ESPN.
Udoka has been a part of coach Gregg Popovich's staff for six years, after a seven-year playing career in the NBA. Udoka, 40, is considered one of the league's most promising young head coaching candidates.
Spurs assistant Ettore Messina and former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale are also set to interview for the Hornets job in the coming days, league sources told ESPN.
Messina and Fizdale are considered two of new Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak's top candidates to replace Steve Clifford, league sources said.
Fizdale has interviewed for openings with the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
After the passing of Popovich's wife, Erin, Messina coached the Spurs' playoff game against Golden State on Thursday night and is set to do so again in Game 4 on Sunday.
Messina has been one of the world's top coaches for decades, a legendary international coach with four EuroLeague championships as a head coach. Messina has coached such global powers as Benetton Treviso, Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow. Messina made a strong impression on Kupchak while the two worked together for the Los Angeles Lakers, where Kupchak was GM and Messina was a part of Mike Brown's coaching staff that also included Quin Snyder.
Messina, 58, has been part of Popovich's staff since 2014.
Fizdale has become one of the league's most-coveted coaching candidates. He was 43-39 in the 2016-17 season, including a six-game playoff loss to the Spurs. He was fired in Memphis after a 7-12 start to this season.
He was a part of two NBA championships as Erik Spoelstra's top assistant coach with Miami, where Fizdale spent eight seasons before his hiring in Memphis.
