DENVER (AP) Mike Evans, the interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets, has been given permission to interview for an assistant coaching job with the Atlanta Hawks.

Evans, 47, is under contract with Denver through next season but was given permission two weeks ago to interview with Atlanta.

"It is a team now that everyone is excited about in the East," Evans told The Denver Post. "They have three guys that can really put the ball in the basket in (Shareef) Abdur-Rahim, (Jason) Terry and (Glenn) Robinson. They will be able to score a lot of points and that is exciting, but defense will be the key."

Hawks coach Lon Kruger was a graduate assistant coach at Kansas State during Evans' freshman season. Evans also has ties to Atlanta general manager Pete Babcock.

Evans took over as Denver's coach when Dan Issel resigned in December after a shouting match with a fan. Evans has been considered a candidate to permanently fill the head coaching job, though the Nuggets have interviewed several others.

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