The Milwaukee Bucks have found their new head coach. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks decided to give the job to Toronto Raptors’ assistant Adrian Griffin.
Griffin is reportedly expected to sign a multi-year deal in the coming days, after which the franchise will officially announce the move.
The Bucks fired their head coach Mike Budenholzer following a first-round playoff loss to the 8th-seeded Miami Heat. Budenholzer previously spent five years with the franchise and led them to the NBA title.
Many believed that Milwaukee would pursue a veteran coach to maximize their championship window, with the likes of Nick Nurse, Doc Rivers, and Monty Williams being all available. But Wojnarowski reports that the franchise’s brass ended up being impressed with Griffin, believing his leadership, strong presence, and defensive acumen make up for his lack of experience.
Adrian Griffin played 10 years in the NBA, suiting up for five franchises, including the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Shortly after retiring from basketball in 2008, Griffin was hired by Milwaukee Bucks to serve under head coach Scott Skiles. He later had stints with the Chicago Bulls, the Orlando Magic, and the OKC Thunder before landing in Toronto in 2018 as a lead assistant coach under Nick Nurse.
