Broghamer makes quick impression

LAS VEGAS — It wasn’t like Josh Broghamer was given a ton of time to prepare for the biggest coaching assignment of his relatively-young career.

Broghamer, who is just 26 years old, knew he was going to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching staff for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

He didn’t know he was going to be THE coach.

“I didn’t know I’d be doing this until coach (Jason Kidd) let me know just before we came out there,’’Broghamer said Monday.

Broghamer, who is an assistant coach and video coordinator, hasn’t looked like a neophyte head coach after three summer league games. He seems totally in control on the sidelines and has done a nice job of shuffling players in and out of the lineup.

Broghamer has also exhibited a consistently calm demeanor, not only in gams but in practices as well, something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by his players.

“He’s definitely a super level-headed guy who doesn’t get too high or too low on anything, which is good especially for a coach,’’ said former University of Wisconsin star and current Bucks rookie guard Bronson Koenig. “He knows the game very well and he knows how to connect with his players. Those are the attributes that a good coach has.’’

Gary Payton Jr., who latched on with the Bucks last season and is battling to keep a roster spot this season, has also been noticeably impressed with Broghamer, who played high school basketball in Iowa City, Iowa but didn’t in college at Northern Iowa.

“He’s doing a hell of a job,’’ Payton said. “We had guys coming in a week or so before (the summer league) and trying to get accustomed to the situation and he was nothing but helpful to those guys.

“He’s patient with the guys. We literally walk over everything every day and he just reinforces what we need to do in games. I definitely see him being a head coach someday.’’

And that day may be coming sooner than later. There have been rumors for several weeks that Broghamer could be selected as the head coach of the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ new G League team in Oshkosh.

While the Herd head coaching position has drawn dozens of applications, sources say Kidd, who clearly the most clout in the organization outside of the majority owners, is strongly pushing Broghamer for the job. A Bucks official recently went so far as to say Broghamer is “clearly the leading candidate.’’

When Broghamer was asked specifically about possibly becoming the Herd’s coach this season, he said, “That’s up to the front office, the owners, the ones who make that decision. I’m just focusing on my job now and we’ll see what happens from there.’’

For now, Broghamer acknowledged he’s enjoying his new job.

“The staff has been really supportive and the players have been great,’’ said Broghamer, who joined the Bucks in 2014 after spending one year with the Phoenix Sun as a video intern. “So, this has been a really good experience.’’