Overview:
- Bucks fired coach Adrian Griffin after 43 games, citing championship concerns.
- Actively pursuing veteran coach Doc Rivers.
- GM Jon Horst acknowledged mid-season challenges.
- Interim coach Joe Prunty takes over with a 30-13 record.
- Defensive struggles were noted despite success.
- Griffin, 49, had a 16-season NBA assistant career and a nine-year playing career.
Why Did Adrian Griffin Fire?
- The Milwaukee Bucks let go of Adrian Griffin as the coach on Tuesday, even though he had one of the top records in the league after just 43 games into his first season.
- They didn't believe he could lead the team to the title. The signs of a problematic alliance between the Milwaukee Bucks and head coach Adrian Griffin came early in the season. Before the season even.
Source: Youtube/ESPN
The Bucks are set to swiftly pursue a small group of experienced and available veteran head coaches, with Doc Rivers emerging as a top target, according to sources informed by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The team has already made contact with Rivers and is engaged in discussions regarding the coaching position.
Bucks General Manager Jon Horst stated, 'Making this decision mid-season was challenging. We are actively working on securing our next head coach. We appreciate Coach Griffin for his dedication and contributions to the team.'
In the interim, veteran assistant Joe Prunty will assume the coaching duties. Horst is scheduled to address the media in a news conference on Wednesday, ahead of the Bucks' upcoming home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
According to Team
Milwaukee brought in Griffin during the summer to take over from the longtime coach Mike Budenholzer, who was let go following the team's early exit in the previous postseason. Just a few months after Griffin's appointment, the Bucks made a major trade to bring in Damian Lillard, adding significant expectations for the team to achieve success this season.
The Bucks, with a 30-13 record, currently hold the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference as of Tuesday night—marking the best winning percentage for a team that fired its head coach midseason since David Blatt's tenure with the Cavaliers in 2015-16.
However, despite their solid record, the Bucks have faced challenges, particularly on the defensive end. Their defensive ranking has dropped from fourth last season to 22nd this year, and they recently allowed 135 and 113 points in consecutive games against the Detroit Pistons.
Adrian Griffin, aged 49, had a 16-season tenure as an NBA assistant, including the last five with the Toronto Raptors, following a nine-year playing career in the NBA.
About Adrian Griffin
Griffin, aged 49, worked as an NBA assistant for 16 seasons, with the most recent five years spent with the Toronto Raptors. Before that, he had a nine-year career as a player in the NBA.
As player:
- CBA champion (1999)
- CBA Finals MVP (1999)
- CBA Most Valuable Player (1999)
- 2× All-CBA First Team (1998, 1999)
- 2× CBA All-Defensive Team (1998, 1999)
- CBA All-Rookie First Team (1997)
- USBL Player of the Year (1999)
- 2× USBL Playoffs MVP (1998, 1999)
Networth: His net worth in 2023 is $5 million.
Family: He has two daughters, Vanessa and Aubrey, and two sons, Alan and Adrian, Jr. He and his wife, Kathy, currently live in Tampa, FL as the Raptors have temporarily relocated there.
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