SUMMARY
- Adrian Griffin has been fired by the Milwaukee Bucks.
- The Bucks' front office noticed a lot of bickering within the locker room during practice sessions.
The Milwaukee Bucks recently decided to sack head coach Adrian Griffin just four months into his first season with the team. Last season, the Bucks were struggling tremendously which led to the firing of Mike Budenholzer. The organization was under Mike’s leadership for a while but their uncalled-for first-round exit pulled the trigger. And in June 2023, they signed Griffin to a four-year deal.
According to Bleacher Report, Griffin said, “I appreciate the opportunity the Bucks gave me. You can’t control everything. I feel good about the job we did. I appreciate my coaching staff for all their hard work.” He also added, “I always wanted to be a head coach in this league… got to coach Giannis, Dame, Khris, and Brooks. Dream come true. Hopefully, I get another shot at it, but overall, I’m just thankful.”
Adrian Griffin told Bucks stars that “sacrifice was required” during an airing-out session after losing to Pacers in the In-Season Tournament, per @ChrisBHaynes
Griffin “lost the locker room” over time and the Bucks front office believed a change was necessary pic.twitter.com/Q9WiYTi6NT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2024
Reporter Chris Haynes stated that the decision stemmed from when the Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers during the In-Season Tournament. Adrian Griffin had an airing-out session with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Brook Lopez. Griffin tried to help them understand things they were good at and areas that needed improvement.
While the Bucks players claimed it was a much-needed session, there were still a few inconsistencies that lingered. Even though they won multiple games since their In-Season Tournament loss, the wins weren’t “convincing enough”, the reporter stated. And after observing the practice session from the sidelines, the front office decided to let Griffin go.
Doc Rivers is the frontrunner to replace the Bucks’ dismissed coach Adrian Griffin
Right now, the Bucks have to find a quick replacement for Adrian Griffin. His tenure as the team’s head coach wasn’t too bad as the Bucks have achieved a 30-13 record. The team has been offensively dominant, however, they weren’t being utilized for what they’re best known for. Over the last couple of seasons, the Bucks have been an S-tier defensive team.
The Milwaukee Bucks have dismissed head coach Adrian Griffin. pic.twitter.com/6PUgCnyuIi
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 23, 2024
Milwaukee has a few coaches in mind that could potentially replace Griffin effectively immediately. One of them is Doc Rivers, who currently serves as a commentator on ESPN. Rivers has a lot of experience working with championship teams and superstars. Jeff Van Gundy and Nate McMillan are also potential candidates if Rivers does not get hired.
Before being hired by the Bucks, Adrian Griffin waited for 13 years to become a head coach in the league. Griffin moved on to coaching following his nine-season career in the league.