According to sources from ESPN, the Milwaukee Bucks have chosen Adrian Griffin as their next head coach. Negotiations for a multiyear contract are expected to be formalized soon. Bucks general manager Jon Horst and team ownership were impressed by Griffin’s leadership presence, character, and ability to oversee high-level defensive teams.
Griffin will be replacing Mike Budenholzer, who was dismissed after five years following a first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat. Griffin will be taking over a franchise that has had significant success in recent years around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and is only two years removed from winning the NBA title.
Each of the three finalists for the job, including Griffin, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson, and former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, met with Antetokounmpo as part of the search process.
Griffin’s Background
Griffin spent the past four years as Nick Nurse’s top assistant in Toronto and is known for his reputation as a high-level defensive coach. He built his defensive system under Scott Skiles, Tom Thibodeau, Billy Donovan, and Nurse. Griffin also has a reputation for player development, including his work with Jimmy Butler and Pascal Siakam.
Griffin has a history with Horst, who was in the front office when Griffin started his coaching career in Milwaukee in 2008. Griffin has had coaching stints with Oklahoma City, Orlando, and Chicago, and has been steadily climbing as a top head-coaching candidate among the pool of league assistants.
Griffin played parts of nine seasons in the NBA, including stops with Boston, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, and Seattle. He started eight games in the playoffs during the Mavericks’ NBA Finals run in 2006. He was also voted MVP in both the Continental Basketball Association and United States Basketball League.
Griffin’s hiring comes after the Bucks’ disappointing playoff run, and he will be tasked with leading the team to a championship. With Antetokounmpo’s future with the team in question, Griffin will have a lot of work to do in order to keep him and the team on track for success.
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