JUNE 5: Griffin has officially been named the Bucks’ head coach, according to a team press release.
“Adrian is a widely-respected coach and former player, who brings great leadership and experience to our team,” general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “His championship-level coaching pedigree, character, basketball acumen and ability to connect with and develop players make him the ideal choice to lead our team. He has earned this opportunity.”
MAY 27: The Bucks intend to hire Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as their next head coach, reports Adrian Wonjarowski of ESPN (Twitter links). According to Wojnarowski, the two sides are in the process of finalizing a contract agreement.
Griffin, one of three reported finalists for the open coaching position in Milwaukee, was the only one without any previous head coaching experience.
Kenny Atkinson and Nick Nurse were also said to be in the running, though Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that the Bucks ultimately decided between Griffin and Atkinson after Nurse pulled out of the process.
An NBA player from 1999-2008, Griffin transitioned to coaching after his retirement and has been an assistant on NBA staffs for the last 15 years. He actually began his coaching career with the Bucks from 2008-10 before moving on to Chicago (2010-15), Orlando (2015-16), and Oklahoma City (2016-18). He has spent the last five years as an assistant on Nurse’s staff in Toronto.
Griffin has received head coaching consideration from multiple clubs in recent years, including the Pistons, Raptors, and Rockets this spring. He filled in as Toronto’s head coach on an interim basis in February while Nurse was away from the team for family reasons and spoke about how the experience was “good practice” for his goal of eventually getting his own team.
Griffin was accused of domestic abuse by his ex-wife on social media in 2020, but vehemently denied those allegations and never faced criminal charges. He later filed a defamation suit in response.
Milwaukee launched a head coaching search after dismissing Mike Budenholzer in early May. Budenholzer earned Coach of the Year honors in 2019, won a championship in 2021, and led the team to an NBA-best 58-24 record in 2022/23. However, the top-seeded Bucks were quickly eliminated from the playoffs in embarrassing fashion by the No. 8 Heat, resulting in Budenholzer’s ouster.
The Bucks reportedly interviewed at least a dozen candidates before narrowing their focus to their three finalists. According to Charania, the second round of their search included meetings with star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was previously said to be “intrigued” by Griffin and endorsed the hiring.
The finalists met with Antetokounmpo on Tuesday, then with Bucks ownership on Wednesday, per Charania. On Thursday, general manager Jon Horst held a meeting to discussion the decision — that meeting included ownership, and Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton were invited to attend, a league source tells The Athletic.
Nurse’s withdrawal from the process is an interesting subplot. He’s believed to be very much in the running for the head coaching vacancies in Philadelphia and Phoenix, so it’s possible he’s focused on landing one of those jobs. A report this week indicated Nurse had “strong support” from some members of the Bucks’ organization, but that support wasn’t unanimous.
The Suns, Sixers, Raptors, and Pistons remain in the market for new head coaches, with the Bucks joining the Rockets as teams that have completed coaching searches so far this spring.
Nice. Glad to see him getting a chance.
Listen to Giannis Antetokounmpo he’s a 28 year old superstar!!!! Outside of Nikola Jokic he’s the best player in the NBA. Adrian Griffin will get Greek Freak back to playing that great defense he plays. This past season wasn’t like him on the defensive end. Then with him bringing on Terry Stotts it’s going to help their offense because he’s an offensive guru. They just need to lock up Brook Lopez for a nice three year deal. Then either get Khris Middleton to opt in or opt out and get a new 4 year deal.
Good for him. Wish him luck.
So the Raptors fire their coach and the Bucks think that coaches assistant is the way to go? I’m happy he got the opportunity but that doesn’t seem the right choice to get you over the hump.
They just fired the coach that got them over the hump three seasons ago.
Perhaps the coach was good because of the assistant. Ever wonder why Phil Jackson took Tex Winters everywhere he went? You’re only as good as the people you’re surrounded by.
The Raptors haven’t been good the last two seasons???
So if your boss at your current job got fired it would mean that you must also be bad at your job and shouldn’t get an opportunity elsewhere?
Maybe you were holding your boss back by not being clever enough. Perhaps he was too lazy, wanting his assistants to make more happen like he did as he worked up the ranks.
Who is to say what the real talent is of these coaches? We don’t see them get on the floor and make shots.
You sound silly. Nick Nurse is a great head coach and Adrian Griffin is the reason their defense is so nice. He’s going to do great.
And assistant coach Jim “10 Rings” Cleamons
Winters was his triangle offense guru. Nothing hidden about that. My teams faced Jackson coached teams many times in the playoffs. Watching him on the sidelines, he’s not relying a whole lot on them during the games. A guy like Winters would be more in prep and perfecting the offense.
It’s interesting that Bucks asst Charles Lee is a candidate for HC around the league but can’t get the job where he was working. Was he ever seriously considered for the Bucks?
Yeah but you can say the same thing about Griffin.
It’s looking more and more like this was a Giannis thing all along. I haven’t seen any legitimate reports that he was behind Bud getting ousted, but if they’re going with Griffin because that’s who Giannis prefers, it’s not that much of a stretch to buy the theory he had something to do with the Bud situation.
But maybe Nurse simply envisioned too much potential change (Lopez FA, Middleton and his option, tax situation/possible trade of Portis, PatC and/ or Allen) and wants a clearer picture going into a new gig.
Where’s the dude who always whines about white privilege?
Looks like all that whining is starting to work. After 75 years black finally starting to get some consideration.
All the consideration now. They have it the best ever in the best time. Different times. Learn your history
I didn’t know that Griffin was black?!
Adrian Griffin’s tenure with the Bucks will be ROCKY,
If the rumors are true that he is bringing in the entire Griffin family to serve as Assistant Coaches under him………….
Peter, Chris, Stewie, Brian, Lois & Meg Griffin !!
While you’re being a clown.. why not Eddie?
And Archie “Two Times” Griffin
What about Blake? Or that hag Kathy? Really the top choice is Griff X.
Glad to see they didn’t settle for a lazy lateral move. Hope it works out.
Giannis has spoken
Hmmmmm. This is interesting. This day and age coaches should have some sort of experience playing in the NBA. I liked Griffin as a player, he played with a high IQ especially on the defensive end. He is definitely a guy who should be a HC. My only issue is I think the Bucks need a more offensive minded coach, but he could surprise me. I’m looking forward to what the Bucks do next season.
So you’re saying the Bucks should have hired Steve Nash? High IQ player, offensive minded, hc experience…hmm this is interesting.
Hmmm,. you being interested is interesting.
You being interested in his interest is…well just another sign of your interest in me!!! See you on the next one!!!
Nash would be interesting. If he developed an offense with Giannis being the main PG, pushing the ball and everyone else running the wings.
The issue is the timeline. I think Nash would need a 1 year of growing pains. Bucks don’t have that kind of time to waste.
I like Mark Jackson. Obviously he’s not a dynamic offensive guy, but he’s top 10 in assists, in fact 1 behind Steve Nash. He knows how to get people easy shots and he knows how to post players up. Holiday and Giannis would fit great into the role Jackson played as a player.
Supposed “defensive-minded” coach Mike Brown had a pretty good offense with SAC this year, right?
Yea we didn’t get a true look at Mike Brown until now. He was coaching Lebron and Kobe before so the perception was skewed.
No it wasn’t.
You want a Raptors assistant to lead a Contending vet team. I don’t think so ….
Could do worse.. could have any knicks coach of the past decade
They had Thibs . They would have 3 rings by now. And you’d have to go back to 1999 Genius. small minds never have all the info. You need more servers.
Fact is …0 rings and rarely make the playoffs. Raps on the other hand, make the dance year after year, oh ya and chip 4 years ago..their coaches must be doing something right.
At least it wasn’t Nate again
Yeah. Why would you want to defensive coordinator from the team that figured out how to completely shut down Giannis and win four in a row…?
Adrian’s AC resume is as good as anybodies (he’s been the lead assistant at 3 stops). More importantly, since it’s a leadership position, I think he’ll demonstrate he’s up to job. Like Darvin Ham, he’ll have the respect of the lockeroom for sure. No learning curve though with MIL at this time.
Good for him.. but hiring a rookie head coach on a team in the middle of a title run window with aging vets and expiring contracts is a HORRIBLE franchise choice… wish him the best.. but this is yet another example of why bad franchises stay bad. Even if it was for a short term.. the bucks needed a veteran HC with championship experience.. not a rookie.
I was thinking the same thing but looking at his 15 years as assistant coach I think he has plenty of experience. Especially if you consider he was in charge of the defense or of the offense at any time.
I’m sure they’ll put a veteran guy or two beside Griffin to sort out things where Adrian may be short. Really the head coach’s job is people and personalities so I suppose the Bucks consider him strong there.
And inexpensive, as compared to the other finalists
That’s probably exactly the point.. and why bad franchies stay bad lol (as I keep saying on these posts)
Erik Spoelstra is the best coach in the NBA… in 15 years we might say the same thing as Griffin… if the Heat were in the middle of a title run with Wade in his prime, Shaq 5 years younger, Zo 10 years younger and both about to be FA in 2008… the Heat would have been absolute morons to let him take over for Pat Riley at the time… I hope you get that point.
Too much time travel. Didn’t read. Jk lol
Spoelstra was an assistant when the Heat won in 2006. Hired as HC in 2008. He was the head coach for only 2 years when they brought in the Big 3. Some guys don’t need long to get used to being a HC.
Boston had two rookie coaches the last 2 years and they’ve done pretty well.
I hear ya man. Kind of like Kerr, Lue, Spoelstra and Nurse – what kind of idiot franchise would hire one of those first time head coaches and expect to win a title!!??
Rumors abound on Twitter that Giannis isn’t a fan of Nurse
Rumor was Nurse backed out, it sounds like he’s about to get the Philly or Phx gig.
Weird… is, realistically, Griffin an upgrade from coach Bud?
Yes, bud wasn’t the best coach and struggled making adjustments. Def need a high IQ guy
Celtics should pursue Nurse!
Isn’t Nurse a whiner?
I suspect Griffin will be fine. He was the guy I thought they’d go with, when this all started. Giannis is already their offensive coordinator. He just needs someone to coordinate their defense. Although, it doesn’t need a whole lot of tweaking yet.
I do agree that he’ll likely hire some vet assistants at least for his first year, like Will Hardy did, and many others have done.
The NBA doesn’t have coordinators.